#one day sho might find peace again

[readychilledwine]

Death of Peace of Mind pt 3

Summary - We all believe Eris has a cabin in the woods where he hides his mate, but what if she wasn't there willingly?

Warnings - NSFW, somnophilia, almost sub vibes from Eris, implied Azris, implied affair

A/N - So, this is coming to a halfway point 🫣 how do we want Rhysand to react? Anger? Joy? Let me know. I have that part open to adjustment. Ps of you see errors, no you don't 💜 P.s.s. sex between her and Eris might get REALLY freaky in one of the last parts 👀👀 is there a line? Let me know.

Double pss?..... did you peep the masterlist? Seren is giving Hecate vibes, and I'm lowkey excited to bring that to life

Series Masterlist Prologue Part 1 Part 2

Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 (aka the end)

Eris couldn't stop tracing every muscle in her back as she slept on her stomach next to him. He had missed this, missed her. He knew he had countless things to apologize for. He knew he had 1000 things to say to her, but he wanted to start with the obvious when she woke up.

He wanted to start with how deeply he loved her, and how sorry he was he let her leave that night. He had a feeling Spring had been plotting something, as did Beron, but his father had told him to ignore it, that his wife, his beautiful mate, would be fine. 

It had been calculated revenge by an angry High Lord, insulted that his own eldest son had been passed over due to laws every court had signed regarding mating bonds. 

Seren had waited before agreeing to marriage and mateship as her father weighed the consequences. He remembered the old Lord of Night's gentle words to her as if they had etched themselves permanently into his memory, "I couldn't break her heart, look at these beautiful eyes and tell me to try to deny her this." 

And Eris could deny her nothing. 3 of his hounds were hers, his food was hers if she asked for it, the blankets if she was too cold, his soul if she wanted to rip it from his very being. Eris was hopeless in love with Seren, and it was his greatest burden and his greatest joy. She was the ultimate weapon against the heir. Had he not beaten Tamlin's side out of the male years ago, Eris would have murdered him in his sleep.

Seren was Eris's weakness, as well as his mother. Two females he had watched his father beat, torture, and harm into false submission. Tamlin's weakness was also his mother. The female beaten, tortured, and damn near killed into true submission. Tamlin had given their location away to save his mother, and Eris used that. Forcing Tamlin into a bargain knowing some day he would need to protect Lucien with the young male's incredibly and increasingly dumb actions.

Eris chuckled as he ran a finger down the bridge of her perfect nose and she scrunched it, wiggling it slightly. He moved to be on top of her, not pressing his body weight in and began kissing down her spine, smirking as she shivered. He licked his way back up, moving her hair to bite her pointed ear, and moving the sheets off the lower half of her naked body. He knew she wouldn't care, the two of them had fucked like rabbits before her faked death, crossing lines the two of them had never imagined they'd find pleasure in, this one was his favorite though. 

He grabbed his pillow, propping her hips up while she continued to sleep and entered her soaking core slowly. He grabbed the headboard and her right hip in his hand, calming himself to have some control as she moaned his name softly and wiggled back on him in her sleep. He began thrusting, slowly. Biting his lip to hold back a groan at the feeling of her velvety walls welcoming him in. 

Seren's mouth parted slightly, her breath picking up with each increasing hard movement brushing her inner nerves. She panted his name again with a whine, causing him to smirk with greedful satisfaction that even after years of forgetting him, of forgetting this, her mind still knew only he could do this to her. 

He finally leaned down to her, kissing the base of her neck before biting her shoulder and picking up speed. Her pants were now full moans, and he felt her waking up through the bond, body fully alert of the pleasureful intrusion and responding by squeezing his cock as if to pull him in further. "That's it dove, wake up for me." 

He kissed the side of her mouth, smiling as those star flecked eyes. "Good girl." He buried his head in her neck, continuing those long heavy drags inside of her and hitting those hidden nerves. 

Seren was in heaven. The comforting weight of Eris pressing into her, the feeling of his hard cock filling every inch, his warmth hugging her. It almost made her heart ache, knowing some magic had been strong enough to make her forget this. Eris whimpered in her ear as her walls twitched, a tight band coiling and threatening to snap inside of both of them. "Take what you need baby," she whispered to him. "I am yours. All yours." That was his undoing, his thrusts became harder, faster, aiming at her gspot over and over until she saw electricity behind her eyes, until her magic slowly started to pour out of her. His name was now a prayer on her lips, falling from them over and over as his movements became sloppily and his growls became moans of her name carving into her skin. "Cum inside me, Eris. Need you to fill me, baby." 

And as they both knew, Eris could deny her nothing, he fell over the edge with a loud groan, hand instantly finding her clit and circling it to rip her over with him. The lightning was no longer behind her eyes as she came screaming his name. Outside, Seren had changed the bright beautiful daylight soaking the Autumn court in a soft pink and orange glow to a heavy rainfall within seconds. 

Eris panted above her, another whimper falling as her walls squeezed his sensitive cock, milking him for every drop. She shifted herself to kiss him deeply, pumping love, comfort, and her own pleasure down their bond to bring him to overstimulation. He collapsed above her, hugging her tightly. "I love you," he began those one thousand words. "I'm so fucking sorry Seren."

Cinnamon, Sage, and Nutmeg stood guard around Seren as she cooked for herself and Eris. Sage had taken station to her right, Meg to her left, and Cinnamon sat happily, tongue lulled to the side between her legs, keeping watch on the door. Toast sat away from her, waiting for her father patiently as she seemingly threw glares towards Seren. Eris had left 2 other hounds, Fennel and Hops, who had taken post on the couch near the window. Seren carefully stepped over Sage, reaching for the 3 spare steaks she had purchased from the market under a glamor and began to slice it into 12 equal parts. She heard the door open and the pattering of soft paws in the room. Cinnamon, Sage, and Meg moved running to greet the owner of that scent of bonfire and warm apples. "Smells so in here good, dove. What'd you make me?"

Seren smiled as Eris moved to her, holding her waist and kissing her temple. "Steak with rosemary and butter, potatoes, mixed veggies, and there's Cinnamon sticky bread in the oven." 

Eris groaned in joy, head falling back with a smile. "Did our children get steak as well?" Seren nodded. "You spoil them. Feeding them high grade cuts." He lifted the bag she had in the sink and smiled shaking his head. "No wonder they all love you more than me. Except for Toast."

"Dig the knife in deeper, Eris," Seren threw a glance to the direct Toast was in, only to find her glued to Eris's side. "I purchased an extra chicken's foot for her." 

She felt his love hit her instantly through their bond. Toast was his baby, his first of the mythical long lived hounds that he had trained. She would always be particularly close to Eris, hating the female who stole her spot in bed regardless of how many extra snacks Seren brought home to her.

But that had never stopped the Night Court female from trying. 

"We should discuss the matter of Rhysand and how you want to handle this, Seren." She shook her head, motioning towards the bowls and setting them down in front of each hound with a kiss on their noses. "I know you are afraid, I am too, but Lucien is there now, and he will be able to see the enchantment that was used on you."

Seren paused, halfway bent over to the largest male hound, Linden. "How?" 

Eris sighed. "Amarantha ripped his eye out. Helion and Thesan had Nuan construct a replacement, it was enchanted to be able to see through spell and magic work."

Seren shook her head. "So, we are still denying it then?"

Eris nodded. "Until the wheel breaks," he phrased it carefully, eyes darting towards the window, "we will not speak of it." 

She nodded. "How is Lucien?" 

"Don't avoid the topic, dove." 

Seren handed him Toast's bowl, ensuring the girl saw her put the extra foot in just for her, before washing her hands. "We start with Azriel, not Rhysand."

Eris felt his blood instantly cool at the mention of his mate's former lover. "Why?"

Seren looked at him, a brow raised. "I could smell him on you, Eris. The scent of cedar and Mist mixed with yours isn't one I'll soon forget. I may not have remembered him, but I knew that scent."

Eris's face flushed. "It was only a few times."

"A few?" Seren moved and kissed him gently. "Was it good?" Her husband nodded. "Would you do it again?" He nodded again, smiling at her teasing grin. "Can I join?" Eris stiffened, his face falling. She rose a brow challenging him and the sudden possessiveness that was becoming clear in their relationship. 

"No," he said firmly. "Not until I've had my fill of you first." 

Weeks later, Seren felt like she was going to throw up. Eris held her tight as they walked through the dark stone halls towards the room she knew he stayed in.

"Almost there, dove," he comforted her, pulling the hood over her head a little more. "We are being watched."

She knew that already. She knew the second Eris winnowed into the Court of Nightmares with an undetectable other person and 3 hounds, Azriel would be there, and they had been planning on it. She just hadn't been planning on this overwhelming dread setting in from stepping back into this cursed place.

Eris entered the doorway to his normal room quickly, pulling her in and shutting it before growling and shoving her behind him.

"Remove the hood," a cold dark familiar voice made her eyes close and every ounce of fear melt from her body. "Now." A pin could be heard dropping when she did and looked up at the blue siphoned male. Eris caught Azriel as he stumbled back, whispering words of comfort to him as he sat the male down on the chair. 

"How? We.. her body. Her." Eris visibly flinched at the unneeded reminder of how "her" body had been found. "Eris-"

The heir shook his head. "I do not know, Azriel. All I know is she was adopted by a family in Autumn. She had no memory of who she was or what happened. I gave her space hoping it would wear off, it never did. I just figured out how to break it."

"Does Rhysand-"

"No," she whispered softly. "I was hoping you would bring him here."

Azriel nodded, taking a few deep stilling breaths. "Does your father know?"

Eris shook his head. "And if all goes well, he won't until it's too late. Never again." "Never again," he agreed softly. Azriel moved to her, raising his hands to her face. She sent him a wave of calm, stopping the trembling and letting him do what he needed. 

His soft touches started with stroking her cheeks, fingers gently sweeping her eyelashes. Then he traced her nose, gently tapping it like he had when she was no more than a little girl begging for affection from him, Rhysand, and Cassian. He then moved to holding a long piece of her silky raven hair, rememorizing the slight shades of blues and purples that hid in it. Both of his hands finally rested on her shoulders before ripping her to his chest, tears freely falling as he buried himself in her scent of moon flower and vanilla beans. "I missed you."

Seren sighed into his body, eyes shutting softly as she allowed him to scent her, ensuring he took a small piece of her home to Rhysand. "I missed you too, Azzie."

Eris took deep breaths, calming the protective rage that the simple sign of love and affection between his mate and another male brought him. 

The two of them were holding eye contact, a silent conversation Eris wasn't privy to being had between his mate and her first crush. “Rhys is shopping for gifts for Starfall at the Rainbow today,” scarred thumbs ran along high cheekbones. “Perhaps you two should find our moon a dress. He should be heading that way in an hour or so. I could alert him to… activity in the Palace of Thread and Jewels.” 

Seren nodded. “You and Cassian may need to be with him.”

“We've never left his side,” Azriel said softly. “And we'll never leave yours again either.” 

Eris smiled as Seren lead him through the streets of Velaris, a wide smile on her face highlighting those dimples. “Almost there,” she whispered. “They have my favorite dresses. I have missed them so much, Darling.” 

Eris smiled, kissing her hand as a shadow alerted them Rhys, Cassian, and Azriel would be there soon. “I know, dove.” They paused in front of the shop, Seren's eyes wide as they took in the nude illusion gown in the window. “Go, my love.”  

The dressmaker dropped her tools the second they entered, dark brown eyes wide as she took in the princess of the Night Court. “Princess Seren,” her voice was shaking as Seren looked closer at the gown. Admiring the gem placements that formed emerald leaves. “I- would you like to try that on, dear?”

“Please,” Seren nodded eagerly. “I already know I like it and want it, but I still like my dresses tight despite Autumn standards.” 

That's how Eris found himself, a glass of deep red wine in his hands as he sat in the private dressing room. He waited patiently as the seamstress kept his mate in that closed off room, pinning the much too large dress tight along every Mother Blessed curve of her body.

He scented them before he heard them. The familiar scent of leather and weaponry oil that followed Illyrians like a second skin. “Rhysand. Hounds,” he greeted calmly. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?”

He heard Rhysand chuckle darkly. “I believe I should be asking you that, Eris. Why are you in my court unannounced and unwelcomed?” 

Eris shrugged. “You demanded I attended your damned Starfall Celebrations. My date needed a dress.” A growl tore through Rhysand. The same growl that always did when he imagined someone else standing in his sister's place. “You should sit, Rhys.” Eris warned as the soft click of heels was heard on the hardwood flooring. 

The genuineness of the warning had the High Lord obeying, taking a spot next to the Autumn heir and studying that emotionless mask for any sign of a Crack. 

Cassian was the first to break, dropping the bottle of wine he was reading the second she entered the room. 

And Rhysand? All he could do was sit there in silence, staring in shock as the seamstress moved her to the pedestal. 

“So lovely on you, dear,” the female stepped back, bowing her head to her High Lord. “I will allow you all to speak. Please ring for me with questions and a decision.”

The drag of the door and click of the handle was a match.

And it was Seren, misting the broken wine glass and spilled bitter beverage away that was the bomb. 

[teenandbeyond]

Shoto. T x Fem. Black Ex Villain Reader

 🎶Guess who's back? Back again. Guess who's back, guess who's back— 🎶 Edit: Lemme know if y'all want more oneshots on their lovestory and such (50 notes if you want a back story, if you pass it by even one, I'll give you a backstory and a smut if you want it.)

The prequel, part 2 is out! Here.

☆*: .｡. .｡.:*☆☆*: .｡. .｡.:*☆

Rainy Days

Warning(s): Fluff, (hints at suggestive language) adult Shoto

You and Shoto's dating life after you leave your villianous past behind.

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

When you wake up, the first thing you see is hetrochromatic eyes already looking at you.

"Good Morning, [Name]."

"G'Mornin," you mutter into a pillow (his intense gaze with no preparation led to you resetting there).

"Your sleep talking is cute every time."

"Ony yud tink tat (Only you'd think that)." You finally turn to meet his eyes, "Want breakfast?"

He nods, "I've been hungry for a while."

You groan as you roll out of the bed, shuffling on some slippers, "Why didn't you wake me up sooner, Sho?"

"You looked peaceful. I could wait," as he got up to follow you, he re-tied his pajama pants.

As you made your way to the kitchen, you yawned, grabbing all the dishes you needed robotically; it was like a seamless routine.

Shoto made himself helpful and helped grab ingredients (which also subtly hinted at what he wanted).

Once everything was set out, he obediently sat at the kitchen island and watched you.

At this point, you'd taught him a little about cooking...but Shoto couldn't be awesome at everything.

After years of teaching him, he'd only managed to master eggs, toast, tea, and cutting vegetables on a good day.

The minute he started your playlist, you sang along like it was your duty as an R&B nerd.

And as he watched you in your element in his kitchen, he felt glad that you were given another chance.

His gaze went down your figure, from your blindingly beautiful smile and plump lips that he could never stop finding attractive no matter how much time passed...

To your hips that swayed with your head to the music; your legs that he loved to hold and have around his—

"Why're you looking at me like that?"

His eyes slid up to meet yours, "I just...I glad that you're with me. I love you."

You didn't know how those three words still managed to fluster you after years.

You smiled, "I love you, too. Wanna try this? See if there's too much seasoning for you?"

Shoto chuckled, "I've been with you long enough to handle some seasoning by now, [Name]."

But he didn't object to being fed, of course he didn't. He loved your soul food no matter what time of day it was.

He was glad that the others weren't here to see this time, sometimes the whole 'you two are a married couple' teasing would get on his nerves.

Let him get spoiled from his Queen in peace.

As he thoughtfully chewed, you kissed his forehead and got back to work.

"Should we go out today?"

"You might want to wear more than just my shirt before we do that."

You rolled your eyes, "Obviously. I hate to see what you'd do if anyone else saw me like this but you."

He stared at you in silence for a long time, you didn't realize he was until you placed the plate in front of him.

Not a twitch.

"Shoto?"

"Hm?" he blinked back to reality. (Oh, there goes gravity.)

"You okay?"

"I was thinking about what I'd do...Probably not the best thing to happen."

You weren't any less confused as he got to eating.

"What does that mean—?”

"—It'd be better if you didn't know."

Well, okay then...

"Besides, it's raining. There's nowhere to go."

Only now did you notice the rain pounding on the window.

"And on your day off, too..."

You felt fingers intertwine with yours before lips brushed against your knuckles.

"That's okay. We don't need to go out for me to enjoy time with you. Last night, for example—"

"—Anyway. We could watch a movie or binge a show."

"If we get to cuddle, deal."

Cuddling was admittedly Shoto's favorite form of physical affection with you.

He loved the way your head fit perfectly in the crevice of his shoulder and head.

He loved the smell of your shampoo while your hair brushed his cheek.

He loved that the curve of your body fit into his, he loved your warmth.

He loved the little whispers of love and affection passing your lips.

He loved the soft neck kisses.

Your nails grazing his back.

He loved your random muttering in English, hearing the slang he understood, the slang he didn't.

He loved the intimacy, he loved how close he could be to you. The pure affection. Something he'd craved for a long time.

He loved the vulnerabilty.

He loved what it represented, the first time the two of you cuddled after a long night of talking.

He loved the trust. The safety.

He loved cuddling with you because you were truly his home.

He needed you.

Absentmindedly, he began to kiss your neck as he went deeper into thought.

More than he realized sometimes.

His friends made him learn what friendship was.

But you taught him what love was like.

"S-Shoto?"

He handn't realized his hands had traveled.

"Yes?"

"What happened to inocently watching the movie?"

He smiled into his shirt, "I never said anything like that...besides, what else is there to do to repay you for the breakfast?"

Ahhh.

Shoto loved rainy days.

[technodromes]

Morty fidgets with the box in his hands. He has picked a paper with punk decorations to wrap it, thinking that it would be fitting his friend's tastes, but now he's starting to wonder if he should have picked something less...flashy. He's never been too good with gifts. He does his best to make them as thoughtful as possible, but that's not always enough. He has sort of made peace with it, yet he can't help being anxious in this particular occasion. Bebop and Rocksteady are the first cool people who have openly welcomed him in their gang and he wants to impress them. Well, stalling won't help him. So, he takes in a deep, calming breath and approaches the mutant. "Uh, h-hey, I mean...Hi," he stutters out, mentally cringing. Great, he's already making a fool of himself. "S-So, Rocksteady mentioned that today would be your birthday an-and...I thought that I should get you, uh, something." And with that, he hands out the gifts. Under the paper there's a slick, dark purple box, a little casket holding a collection of selected music albums. They are shaped like small, flat squares and they are obviously not from Earth. "Y-You can listen to them with...well, everything. J-Just set it on whatever device you want to use. T-The thing will attach itself to it an-and...then use the device as you'll normally do." He rubs the back of his neck with a nervous smile. "T-They are...it's alien music, b-but it's basically all rock, punk and similar. I-I hope you'll like it. H-Happy birthday!" [[ Morty for Bebop's bday! || Sorry for the delay, I ended up working super late yesterday x.x ]] @countlessrealities

[Beedeedledee’s Birthday]

[🎸]   Rocksteady gifted Bebop a vintage set of punk badges earlier which he's already wearing proudly all over his red vest. And, after days of constant begging, Krang finally improved Bebop's arcade station with another bunch of 'brainless' games, as the Utrom would call them. (However, Krang also installed a device into the arcade that might be more than the Mutant bargained for, but that would be subject to another day).

Shredder on the other hand would organize a bunch of Foot Soldiers to leave a huge pile of pizza boxes in the Mutant's abode. It is the Ninja Master's way of making sure the 'giant baby' would stay quiet for a while instead of pestering him all day about going to a funfair for his birthday like every year.

And so, Bebop is stuffing another rolled-up piece of pizza into his snout before turning a curious gaze at Morthy. He didn't really expect any visitors, let alone more gifts. His pointy ears perk up in excitement and he yanks the box out of Morty's hands. "Woah, youse even brought me somethin'? Lemme see what'cha got!" The excitement of getting a gift wrapped in rad-looking papers is overpowering the urge to poke fun at Morty for acting like a shy schoolgirl, despite it lying on the top of the mutant's tongue.

Upon discovering the weird flat squares, Bebop tilts his head in confusion. But Morty's explanation quickly shifts his mood into pure joy again.

"You mean like N'-sho-v? Damn Morty, we listened to that in one of those weird spaceships. Idunno where they came from, but that sound was fuckin' rad. Rock an' I named our dinosaur after it. That's remindin' me, YOU still need a gang name too, because 'Morty' ain't it! Youse know what? I go get Rock an' then we listen these babies together! Maybe we find somethin' that's fittin' you!"

[dreamsandflowers]

"Hey..Sho-kun... You're right. I may be rotten. You called it. However...The path you've chosen? There is no peace there."

[constant-creative-chaos]

Dancing with mha characters

part 1 - part 2 - part 3

kiri would ask you out of the blue, you two would probably be hanging out in his dorm one night and he’d just ask

like “baby, dance with me? 🥺”

he’d have his arms around you’re waist ofc, and he’d lay your head against his chest so you can hear his heart beat

he isn’t a good dancer but it’s all good, as long as you’re happy then he’s happy to dance with you

he wouldn’t do much other than sway, considering his poor skills

but he’d definetly him along to the songs

speaking of the songs, he’d probably play really cheesy love songs because he’s like that

laughs everytime either he or you messes up, he finds it amusing

ends up goofing off more towards the end

rating: 100/10, in conclusion, i love kirishima

you sat on kirishima’s bed, stretched out comfortably. your back against his headboard and his head in your lap, your fingers scratching gently against his scalp. he hummed along to the music playing, some song made a few years ago.

the song changed and he looked up at you, excitement flickering in his eyes, “baby, wanna dance with me?”

you stopped scratching his scalp for a moment, thinking about it. you smiled and nodded.

“yeah, i do, kiri,”

you’d have to ask him, like a lot

be persistent!!

it’s not that he doesn’t want to dance with you

it’s just that he has no fucking clue how to dance and doesn’t want to embarrass himself

he’s just s u c h a great dancer and doesn’t want to make you feel bad about your skills

no but he’s struggling,, he has no idea what he’s doing

“katsuki, just put your hands on-” “tch, i know what i’m doing dumbass”

he figures it out eventually, he had one had on your hip and the other holding yours

he buried his head in your neck so you don’t see his blush

he’s practically silent, only speaking to make a remark when you trip

he actually finds it really endearing

rating: katsuki, marry me

“katsuki, you gotta take a break. it isn’t good for you to keep at it like this,” you said rubbing his shoulder.

“yeah and what else would i do?” he grumbled, pushing his hand further down the pencil.

bakugou had been working non-stop on homework since he’d returned to the dorms that day. he had yet to take a break and he needed it, and you were about to force him into relaxing for a bit if he spent another second writing.

a small sigh left him before reaching up and grabbing your hand on his shoulder. He rubbed small shapes with his thumb and apologized.

“if you dance with me then we’ll be even,”

“alright shitty-(feature),” he paused before looking up at you through his eyelashes, “you and dancing.”

boy oh boy, sero and you dance so often

he loves dancing with you and DAMN is he good at it

he’ll dance with you at any point in time, for any reason

he spins you a lot, he’ll even lift you a little if he’s feeling it

it’s super playful

he dips you all the time

baby has the moves and loves teaching you

he’ll dance to any song, especially if you’re with him

he’s always laughing either you or talking to you while you dance together

rating: 10000/10, dancing king, only seventeen 🎶

“Mi sol, when did you get so good at this?��

sero spun you wildly in the spot, twirling you under his hand. you laughed and tumbled into his chest, still seeing the room spin around you. sero pulled back slightly to see you and your unfocused eyes.

“beginners bad luck finally wore off, i guess!”

he smiled down at you, waiting for you to lose the dizzy feeling of turning like that. he enjoyed your smile while you watched the room. but the second you’re eyes focused again he was moving around the room with you again.

“you’d best not drop me, hanta-”

he’d take you out dancing

endeavour payed for dance lessons when he was a kid - he couldn’t have his prodigy dancing like an idiot

this is an endeavour hate page

he took formal dancing lessons and would 100% take a while to loosen up with you

but he holds you very delicately, with one hand on the small of you’re back and the other holding yours

as he loosens up and relaxes he holds you closer to him

and i mean this is shouto todoroki we’re talking about, he’s quiet the whole time

he just watches you with a small smile on his face, cute as fuck-

would teach you to ballroom dance at some point, if you didn’t know

rating: 15/10, he’s a rich boy, he knows his moves

“sho, this is wonderful,” you grinned at him, “really, i appreciate this.”

he returned the smile, taking your hand in his and pulling you forward on to the dance floor. you straightened your clothes out and took his lead. the two of you began moving around the room together, following the rhythme of the song playing.

“you know how to dance formally?” he asked, watching you move with grace.

“i have no clue what i’m doing, i’m just following you,”

you’d ask and he’d: “y-you want to- i mean i’m not a good dancer- are you sure?? why??”

he’s so nervous, just give him some reassurance and he’ll be fine

he is always making sure he isn’t making you uncomfortable

he’d let you pick the music or chose from your playlist

he’d hold you by the hips after asking a few times if that was okay

he isn’t the best but he picks it up pretty quickly

he probably asked iida for dance lessons after this

n e ways, he’d probably be red the whole time

rating: 12/10, his nervousness is actually really endearing

he put his hands on your hips and pulled you toward him, glancing up to make sure you weren’t uncomfortable. you wrapped your arms around his neck loosely, moving closer to him. you started swaying to the song playing and he followed your lead. the two of you starting to step around.

“are you sure you’re okay with this,” he tapped his fingers against your hip.

you hummed and rested your head on his shoulder, finding dancing with him comforting, “ ‘s okay, izuku. i promise.”

he kissed you on the crown of your head and continued moving to the music. he started relaxing and fully taking in the moment.

tenya iida, my main man,, he also got dance lessons when he was younger

fuckin rich boy

he short circuited when you asked, just give him a moment

he was probably super excited but kept it under control

he almost certainly played some sort of ballroom music (does that make sense??)

mans full on waltzed with you-

but he’d also do a more casual dance if you wanted

he held you small of your back and waist, he’s very careful not to make you uncomfortable

he’d only be goofy if you guys are just fooling around and making jokes while dancing

other than that he’s pretty quiet

rating: 20/10, tenya please wear some goddamn contacts during training

“y/n, i’m so sorry,” iida flushed deeply, stopping his movements.

despite his time practicing dance and his thought out movements, he’s stepped on your foot. he was apologizing profusely while you just stood and laughed lightly, watching his arm chop down.

“i’m sorry, i should have watched my step and- wait are you laughing?”

“iida, it’s okay. you have nothing to worry about.”

he’d probably just randomly start dancing with you

like you could be dancing around while cleaning and he’d just join you

baby can’t dance, he just can’t

but he acts like he can

would twirl you constantly and he’d try to dip you but fail miserably 😭

electric slide lookin ass

probably just starts his playlist and dances to random songs

he’s so goofy omg-

doesnt stop laughing or teasing you

rating: 30/30, sounds like a vibe

“you’ve been hit by, you’ve been struck by, a smooth criminal!”

denki stood on his toes, head tipped downward, and his hand positioned like he was dipping a fedora. at this point he had crashed into the table and knocked a chair over. this man was to never be trusted near anything fragile.

he took your hand and spun you around him, trying to keep you from the chair on the floor. after he spun you he spun himself, this time tripping over the chair and tumbling into the fridge.

“denki are you okay? are you okay, denki?” you sang along with the song playing.

sunshine man, he would 100% dance with you

but you’d have to ask, the thought just wouldn’t come to his mind

and he is worse than denki

but he has so much fun with it that it doesn’t matter

he spins you and lifts you, it’s so fun

he’s so goofy and playful, not a serious moment

he accidentally activated his quirk while dipping you, that hurt

but he loves dancing with you

and he pokes fun at his own dancing, he finds it really amusing

and he hyped you up so much

rating: 1000000/10, overall a perfect experience

a squeal left your mouth as your feet left the ground, mirio’s hands clutching your waist tightly. you grabbed on to his shoulders to keep yourself steady. he put you back on the ground and continued dancing along to the music. he shimmed his shoulders and bopped his head to the beat. or at least tried.

“i know that you can’t help but watch my horrible dancing but you gotta dance with me, can’t be the only bad dancer here!”

you shook your head and took his hands, shimmying along with him. man was mirio was a bad dancer but he made it so much fun

you’d ask him and he would just not get why you’d wanna dance with him

he wouldn’t object to it, it’s just that he’s sure that he’s a bad dancer and that others are so much better and

would hide his face in your neck and hold you really tightly to him

and he’s so nervous

if he stepped on you he’d let go of you and just stand in a corner for hours

but honestly, he’s actually a really good dancer

if you guys dance more he’ll start goofing off and doing stuff like spinning you

probably doesn’t put on music and if he did it would be off of his chill playlist

rating: 80/10, might be my ideal situation

you and amajiki had barely moved from where you guys started, not that it mattered. you two had been swaying more than dancing, but it was peaceful and relaxing. that’s what mattered. he had he’s arms wrapped tightly around your torso and his head was hidden in your neck. you felt his smile and uneven breathes brushing against your skin.

some old slow song played from your phone, one he chose. both of you were happy with the closeness and intimacy of the moment, but tamaki was happy he just hadn’t stepped on you. god that would have killed him. but he had yet to, and he was thankful.

“thank you, tama,” you smiled gently, “this is nice.”

[melaninpozp]

Something seems Wrong( Mingi x fem reader!)

( y/n stays at this hotel for 3 days and the woman at the counter gives you this scary look before handing you the key. Little did you know, your shower would randomly stop at weird times, things would fall off the counter when you weren’t looking, and you notice that some of your panties are gone. Until one night, you’re asleep and a man named Song Mingi is hovering over you while you’re sleeping.

WARNINGS: smut, degrading, breath play( safely) , and dirty talk.

••

“Hello, I would like to stay for a 3 days please.”You say having a backpack on your back and a suitcase next to you, smiling at the lady from across the counter.

The lady slowly looks up and raises an eyebrow, her eyes immediately turning a black color.

“A week you say?”The lady says and bends down, smirking and grabbing a key that read the name:” R14”. The R sorts being scraped up and having the letter ‘ M’ next to you but you ignore it.

“Yes, ma’am. Thank you so much.”Y/n gives the lady a nice look before grabbing her suitcase handle and walking around the hotel upstairs , walking down the hall, not seeing many people in the hotel as usual.

“211..”Y/n reads to herself, passing by all the hotel rooms, going further more down the hall and finally finding “214.”

“Ah! Here it is!”Y/n whispers to herself before reaching in her pocket and opening the hotel room with ease.

Y/n slides the key back into her pocket and walks into her assigned room, turning on the lights as they’re a little dim but not to much to worry. As you bring your backpack and suitcase in, the air settles and begins getting cold, but then again, you ignore it.

“This isn’t too bad..”Y/n says to herself and closes the door behind her and slides her shoes off and turning on the tv.

You look over at the time as you widen your eyes at how late it is.

“How the fuck is it 1 am already..”Y/n says and sighs before standing up and letting the tv play in the background.

Y/n decided to take a shower before going to sleep, As she steps into the bathroom she notices the soap bar on the ground, being face down.

“What..”You say to yourself before reaching down and setting the soap bar onto the sink counter.

You turn around and turn on your shower water before walking out and grabbing your oversized t-shirt and undergarments.

As you walk back into the bathroom, you notice the shower water has stopped and the soap bar is back on the ground.

“What the actual fuck..”Y/n says and frowns, grabbing the soap and putting it back onto the counter, turning back once again and turning the shower water on.

As you slide your clothes and undergarments off, you step into the shower and begin washing your body with regular smelling Dove soap.

You begin to wash under your arms but the shower water stops, Your heart almost dropping at the sound of things dropping outside the bathroom.

“Hello!?”Y/n says and looks up at the shower head as it drips warm droplets.

You hear no response but things randomly keep falling, You clench your jaw and slowly pull your curtain open to the side and step out, grabbing your towel and drying off.

“I’m calling the cops if you don’t leave right now..”Y/n calls out as the door is still closed and she continues drying off while watching the bathroom door.

The rustling outside the bathroom door suddenly stops.

You slowly step towards the bathroom door that is currently closed and open it slowly, looking out at your room and seeing nothing is messed up.

You look around with the towel still wrapped around you, making sure no is there before sliding the towel off and putting on your bra and panties. Forgetting about the oversized shirt and still feeling a little paranoid.

“If anything is in here with me, please don’t kill me..I’m just staying here for the week, I really don’t want any trouble..”Y/n speaks out to the invisibly person that might be in the room with her.

You hear a gust of wind past you and you gasp, stepping back and covering your mouth.

“P-please..”Y/n covers her mouth in fear, landing over her bed and looking around.

“What the fuck was that...”Y/n says to herself, shaking a little and not feeling the ‘ figures’ presence any longer.

As you begin to feel less paranoid, You had already shut the lights off and kept the tv on, Covering up and falling asleep.

NEXT MORNING:

It’s about 10:27 am in the morning once you woke up, You slowly sit up and notice it’s really cloudy and looking as if it’s going to rain outside.

“Looks like I’ll just stay in this all day.”Y/n says to herself and lays back down before seeing 2 red eyes stare at her while next to her.

“Yo, What the fuck!”Y/n gasps and stands up looking at the red eyes and they suddenly disappear. Going away for quite a while.

“I have to get out of here..”Y/n says to herself before turning back and looking through her drawer of panties and notice most of them are gone, She brought at least 7 pair but there were 3 now..Strange.

You raise an eyebrow at how suspicious that looks and you sit back on your bed, trying to contemplate what has been going on for the 2 days.

First, It was the door handle almost falling off...The cold are turning on once someone walks in...The soap bar on the floor and The shower randomly turning off... my panties gone...and a pair of red eyes looking at me..

Y/n shakes her head and can’t seem to keep her eyes open but covers back up, being a little paranoid for half the day and looking around, not knowing what to do.

•••

It just turned 9:21 pm and you had already ordered food up to your room, The waiter leaving in almost an instant as he saw something moving behind you. And the waiter didn’t tell you?

“Weird..”You whisper to yourself and close the door, having the bag of freshly hot food in one hand.

As you walk back to your bed, you begin seeing the tv flick through the channel, But what you didn’t notice was that the remote was moving and clicking the ‘ Prev” button.

Suddenly the flicking of the remote stops and tv stops stops changing channels back and forth.

You begin feeling some type of presence behind you and rest their hand on your hip, making you gasp and stand in place.

“I come in peace please..I told you I don’t want to harm you or anything. I come in peace.”Y/n says, slightly shaking.

A deep voice says,

“Turn around..now. I don’t care if you come in peace or not. Just turn around for me, angel..”The voice says and you slowly nod your head, turning around and keeping your head down. As you stared at the ground, you began seeing the man’s black dress shoes and his black dress pants, As your eyes begin traveling up his body you see that he’s wearing a black necklace that says” M”..

Suddenly you began to remember that your assigned key had an ‘ M’ on it also..

“You look up at me when I’m your presence. You don’t look down at my shoes like I’m some pest, I only do that because you’re so fucking short..”The deep voice laughs and you suddenly look up, seeing those same red eyes and immediately backing up, looking at how tall he is.

“My name is Mingi, don’t ever disrespect me..”He says.

Y/n still looks into his eyes, not saying anything. Being in complete shock.

“Awe, you’re intimidated and shocked by how tall I am?”He says and begins to slowly step towards you.

You shake your head slowly and fold your arms, Still in your bra and panties from earlier this morning.

The figure completely appears and lifts your chin up, clenching his jaw.

“What the hell did I just say, can’t do a thing right, can you, little y/n?”The man says and grabs your jaw, shoving you onto the bed, making you gasp at how strong he is.

“Don’t run away from me, I asked you question, whore”He says with his deep voice.

“N-no sir...I cant do anything right..”Y/n says and looks into the man’s eyes.

“In the presence of who?”He says and pulls you by your legs, making you gasp once again.

“In the presence of Mingi, sir..”You say and look up at him.

“Good girl, do you promise to not freak out or tell anyone that I’m here? Do you also promise to call me daddy, sir, or mister?”He stares at you.

“Yes sir, I promise.”Y/n says softly, nodding her head and beginning to comply.

“That’s a good girl..”He says.

“You’re the one who stole my panties and made the soap fall.. and stopped the sho-“You begin to say but Mingi quickly stops you.

He clenches his jaw and smirks, pinning you down onto the bed and staring down at you.

“Yes, so what if I did.”He says, he smirks and rips your panties off.

You cover your mouth, noticing how wet you are.

“N-nothing is wrong with it sir, I-i just find you very attractive now that you’re here..”Y/n stutters and looks down at how wet she is, Mingi still hovering over her.

“Do I have permission to touch you?”He raises an eyebrow.

“Yes sir..”You nod your head and begin feeling his hands go up your waist.

“Open those legs for me, sweetheart.”He says and kneels in front of you, opening your legs and bending them back by your head. Making you gasp at how rough he is.

You gasp softly and begin feeling his tongue glide against your clit, wiggling it around and watching you fall apart in front of him.

“Oh fuck, sir..”Y/n begins to moan softly and play with her hard nipples through her bra.

“That’s right, slut, play with those nipples”He says and looks up at you , gliding his tongue against your clit more and running his hands up your stomach.

“Fuck baby”Y/n moans out and runs a hand through his red hair.

Mingi suddenly stands up and grabs you by your throat, shoving you against the wall and slowly kissing you, moving one of his big hands down your pussy and gently rubbing your clit.

“Oh f-fuck..”You moan through the kiss.

“Yeah baby? Is that the spot? You’re letting some random fucking man pleasure you like this..”Mingi whispers down in your ear, rubbing your clit faster.

“It feels so nice sir, oh fuck..”You moan out , looking up at him and feeling his fingers slide inside of you.

“You’re gonna be my little bitch tonight, got it?”He clenches his jaw and keeps eye contact with you, watching you fall apart from his fingers.

“Yes, sir..”

•••

a little side note, THIS SUCKS SO BAD IM SORRY BABES:((

[darkdevasofdestruction]

Hold Me, I’m Soft ~ Mammon x Reader

This is going to refer to the DevilGram story with Madi the Witch, because it didn’t sit right with me how Mammon got used and laughed at for being sexually assaulted, especially when I related to that in more ways then I’d want to admit, so there it is, a short little fic to give Monnie some love, especially since his birthday will be this week and I will be at the mountains, unable to actually post anything other than a Happy Birthday maybe.

Ever since she got to the Devildom, Y/N wondered to herself why in the world would the brothers bully Mammon so much, to the point that he’ll break down in tears when nobody is around?

He’s the most gentle of the brothers, yet he’s met with nothing more than taunts and mocking because of his greed. It’s not like he can help it, it’s his Avatar sin, he didn’t choose it. People get annoyed at Beel for eating too much and constantly raiding the fridge, for when he indulges in the pleasure of greed, he’s suddenly the scummy trash brother who’s just a waste of space. The family’s embarrassment.

But why should he be that, when he’s the only one who never gave in to his demonic power from rage? Never tried to attack or kill her and never got in his demon form to lash out at her?

Mammon was the first one to ever call her by her name and even give her nicknames. He was the first one to call her out to the cinema, concerts, shopping, pranking time, board games, card games, and even video games or just some quality time together.

He was the one to taught her how to be an undefeated Blackjack player and how to spot when someone is lying. He was the one to taught her how to flawlessly cheat in games and how to protect herself if something happened.

Even more, he was the one who graciously asked if she wanted to workout with him so she could be stronger and faster if anything were to happen and he wouldn’t be around, just like how it happened long ago, when Levi lost control and almost attacked her.

And, of course, he was the only one who constantly asked her if she was okay, if she was happy, if she needed anything. He would always pamper her whenever he thought she stopped smiling for one split second, or if he thinks she was faking it. He would grab TSL and some comfort food, hot chocolate with marshmallows and would cuddle her all night, playing with her hair.

It really pissed her off, but no matter what she did, and no matter how much she tried to make the others at least tone it down, of course, millennia of habits cannot be so easily tamed.

These were the constant thoughts that plagued Y/N’s mind, yet the white haired man will never know, because she is a girl of few words and many actions.

Today, however, as usual, was the time for some new shenanigans, as Lucifer and Satan must be the escorts of some powerful witch, as per Diavolo’s request, since he literally can’t stand her - And that speaks loads, when it comes to the benevolent Demon Prince.

“Hey, is it really gonna be okay to leave those two by themselves like that?” Mammon asked with a worried expression on his face. “Well, neither of them are saying anything...For now, at least.” Asmo held the same expression as his elder brother. “Yeah, you just KNOW that they’re going to blow up any minute. It’s so exciting!” Levi spoke with a chuckle. “Hey, why is it that you only ever come outta your room at times like this, Levi? I thought you were s’posed to be a shut-in.” Mammon raised his eyebrow at his little brother. “Well, this is Lucifer and Satan. They almost NEVER work together, much less when it’s just the two of them! I mean, if I’d missed an event like this, I’d regret it for the next 800 years.” Levi grinned, his shoulders shaking with laughter. “Diavolo was pretty bold to make them work together, if you ask me.” Y/N muttered, crossing her arms and peeking through the door creak.

Saying that, the four of them leaned in the peek better and listen to their conversation.

“Be careful. If Maddi takes a liking to a man, she’ll bring him back home with her.” Lucifer smirked at his younger brother. “As if you need to remind me...I recall how Mammon went home with her that one time. Mammon must have regretted going with her, because by the time he got back, he was on the verge of tears. I remember it like it was yesterday!” Satan shook his head in disbelief, making the girl gasp, covering her mouth with her hands. “HEY! I wasn’t!” Mammon frowned at what he just heard, making Asmo shush him quickly so they won’t be heard. “I don’t even want to THINK about what must’ve happened between those two that night. I can’t understand what possessed Mammon to willingly go home with a woman that dangerous. It’s fortunate she didn’t trick him into making a pact with her while he was there in bed half-asleep.” the blond continued speaking, making the girl bite her lip from the shock and pain in her chest. “But there’s no doubt that Mammon didn’t have a good time, because for a while after he came back he had nightmares, and he’s moan in his sleep. He even stopped spending money left and right...MAMMON, of all demons. Still, Maddi IS attractive. She rivals the succubus who won the Queen Contest in terms of beauty. In fact, Maddi might be even MORE beautiful. I’m a little worried that you’ll end up like Mammon - That as soon as she uses her feminine wiles on you, you’ll fold like a paper airplane.” hearing that, she couldn’t stop herself and she fled the place, going to her room to regain herself, not giving anyone any explanation.

She already made up her mind that, despite being the middle of the day, she will skip both lunch and dinner, so changing in her pyjamas, she got in bed, cuddling the hellhound plushie Mammon got her, and wrapped herself in a tight cocoon with her blanket, not wanting to see the light of the day.

So many thoughts were swirling in her mind, each of them more and more degrading, overpowering one another, guilt taking over her completely.

She prided herself with being a ration person, she really did! She always put ration and logic over hindering emotions...But now...When she can overthink in peace...The ration she held completely dissipated, and here she was, crying her heart out once again.

Why WAS she crying for, anyway?

Was it because she felt Mammon’s pain at having being used like that, against his will, because he’s an innocent and peaceful push-over? 

Was it because she remembered what happened to her, and her heart started aching like crazy, and she began to spiral? 

Was it because she felt plain, ordinary and completely nothing special, when she heard Lucifer saying that Maddi is the most beautiful person in the world and that’s why Mammon was lured in by her?

Or was it the guilt of being affected by jealousy and self-hatred before the pain from what that vile woman did to him?

What the hell was going on through her head, anyway? She heard enough opinions about her and how terrible of a girlfriend she was, why should she even have any hope that Mammon would ever like her? And why the hell was she worrying about that, when she should be worrying about the poor demon?!

She’s really nothing more than a selfish jerk.

As if on cue, she heard the familiar sound of a received message on her D.D.D., and curiosity won over her self-deprecating sulking, and she checked it out, making her heart skip a few beats.

It was Monnie, and he was asking if she was okay and why she left.

Tears started brimming in her eyes, and letting out a few more sobs, she realised that, even thought he doesn’t romantically love her, he will always be her best friend, and she was at least content with that, no matter how selfish she is.

She quickly texted him, asking if it was okay if she came over later, for a sleepover, and of course, he agreed, so the girl put a cardigan over her so it wouldn’t be too obvious she was in her pyjamas - Not that it mattered, anyway - and got some snacks, made some hot chocolate and went to Mammon’s room, finding him in a tanktop and some large pants, playing some game on his phone.

“Took you long enough!” Mammon grinned, making room for her to join him. “What’s with that face? You stormed out of there, so somethin’ must’ve bothered ya. Come on, y’know you can tell me.” he got in a sitting position, looking at her with a concerned look, but was met with silence for a many seconds, in which he feared he must have said something wrong. “I, uh...I guess I got worried about you after what they said...But I didn’t have the best reaction...I needed some time to think things over. It was pretty selfish of me to do that, instead of talking to you first...But I guess I’ve always been pretty selfish, haven’t I?” she chuckled nervously, still standing up, next to the bed. “What the hell are ya on about? Is it about that Maddi thing? Forget it, it happened long ago, it doesn’t bother me anymore.” he shrugged, looking away for a split second, only to look back at her. “I...Don’t think you’re over it.” she bit her lip, looking down, sucking at her teeth to stop herself from sketching any gesture on her face. “What do ya know about that, anyway? Come on, shut up and put the movie on, I ain’t got all day!” he tried to make her stop talking already, but she wasn’t exactly paying attention. “I had a similar experience too and...When I heard what happened, flashes of what happened went in front of my eyes and I started panicking. That’s why I ran away.” she spoke, her eyes glossed and unfocused. “Is that why ya wanted to hang out?” Mammon muttered softly, seeing her slowly nod her head. “I never told anyone...And so, nobody was there to care about me. But you always cared about me...And I wanted to do the same, for once.” she gulped, blinking and putting everything on the nightstand next to his bed. “...Come’re, dummy.” he sighed, tugging on her hand and making her sit on his lap, as was their ritual whenever one of them needed comfort. “Did I upset you, Monnie?” she asked, barely audible, making him put his hands on her shoulders, so she could properly look at him. “What?! Upset me?! ‘Course not! I-I’m happy that you thought of me, okay? It’s just...Yeah, it wasn’t nice, duh, but I’m a demon. I can take many things. But you’re such a frail little human. You’re small, fragile and soft, and since nobody wanted to bother getting to know such a nice gal like you, then I will always be there for you.” he put his hands on her face, trying to reach through to her. “...I was supposed to comfort you...Why did it go the other way around...? I was supposed to make sure you okay, that you’re smiling and that you can manage to get over what happened in the past...I wanted to be the one you can count on, for once...But I’m failing even at that...That’s how much of a selfish jerk I am...You deserve better than me, Monnie.” she hung her head, resting her forehead on his shoulder, not realising her words made him stiff, and tears prickled at his eyes. “Shut up, dummy! You’re a dummy! Dummy! Dummy! Never say things like that okay, got it?! Listen, I-I care about you, okay? I don’t care if you manage to comfort me or not, I just care that you think about me, okay? You’re the only one that gives a damn about me, and I appreciate that, okay? You see part of yourself in me, and I see a part of myself in you, so of course I want to keep you safe.” Mammon sighed, holding the girl close to his chest, playing with her hair, as he always did. “Monnie...Can I tell you something?” she muttered. It was now or never. If he hated her, so be it, but at least he knows. “Of course ya can, dummy. You can tell me anythin’ you want.” he said with an encouraging chuckle. “I...Left because I felt guilty. Because...My first thoughts were creeping with jealousy, instead of worrying about you and what happened, first and foremost. My brain fails me big time. And I feel really bad, ‘cause you deserve much better than some idiot who gets jealous over someone vile like...Her.” she let a few tears fall down her face, but poor Mammon was lost in his own head.

Jealous? Why the hell would she be jealous? What could she be jealous of? What is going on even?

“Why would you be jealous of her? You’re better than she’ll ever be, in every way. What the hell is going on through that head of yours, Y/N?” he frowned, flicking her forehead, unsure of how to react. “You heard how Lucifer and Satan spoke about her...And they are Lucifer and Satan. They spoke only praises about her...A-And I didn’t want her to be around you. Y-You’re my first man, Monnie, please understand what I’m saying.” she hid her face with her hands, her bottom lip quivering from embarrassment and guilt. “O-Oh...Ya like me?! Like...Like-Like me?! For reals?!” his voice became so cheerful and hopeful, and as soon as he saw her nodding, he started laughing very happily, kissing her forehead and taking away her hands from her face, his grin bright and dazzling like the first sunshine of Spring. “Cool, ‘cause I love ya too! I was sure you liked one of my brothers, they ain’t as problematic as me, but you like me, your first man, and I couldn’t be happier!” he started kissing her all over her face, making her blush like a tomato. “Why wouldn’t I like you? You’re the best. You’re the only one who has been genuine with me since the very beginning and cared about me. And spending time with you always is always calming and...You always make me happy. I forgot what it’s like to be happy since that happened...But whenever my brain goes stupid and I start overthinking, you always manage to keep me grounded...And I really appreciate you for that.” Y/N spoke out, making Mammon’s eyes water, and with the ordinary greedy impulse he had, he grabbed her face and kissed her deeply, without even realising what in the world happened. “Don’t fluster me like that, Y/N...Actually, do, I love it, but I’m not used to it.” he chuckled nervously, making the girl smile softly. “Can I do anything to make you feel better about...The past?” she asked sheepishly, her hands hanging awkwardly, unsure of what to do with them. “Well...The hot chocolate is going to get cold...And there’s snacks to eat and  movies to binge-watch...” he trailed on, snaking his arms around her waist, making her put hers on his shoulders. “Also...I want to make sure you’re comfortable with me, okay? I dunno what happened to you, but if it’s similar to what happened to me, I want to promise you that I will never do anythin’ you’re not okay with. I pinky promise.” Mammon spoke in a more serious voice, yet just as gentle. ��I know, Angel eyes. I trust you the most out of everyone in this world. And I can promise you the same thing.” she managed to give him a proper smile, throwing her arms around him, hugging him tightly, feeling the comforting warmth of his body.

That embrace alone felt, for the both of them, like the sole safe home they ever had, and there was nothing that could break this dream-like state they were in. There was no negativity and no bad thought going through their mind, as the warmth and love of the hug was enough to disperse of any pest lingering and purging their sanity.

When they finally got the courage to let go of each other, fearing that they would disappear from this serenity state, they cuddled together in bed, drinking the now room temperature hot chocolate, eating so many snacks that they resembled Beel, and watching TSL on the huge plasma TV on the wall.

“Monnie?” Y/N raised her head to look up at him, love and admiration obvious in her sparkling eyes. “Thank you for existing in my life. I know you go through great lengths to take care of your brothers and make sure they’re happy...And I know you get hurt a lot in the process...But I really appreciate everything you’re doing, both for me and for them. I’m sure they see it too, they’re just too stupidly proud to admit to themselves...As usual.” she chuckled, reaching to hold his hand and intertwine their fingers together. “Thanks, Y/N. You’re the best. I’m really happy you came to talk to me...And I’m really happy you’re here with me. I love you.”

[backugo]

You make me smile

Character: Todoroki Shouto x Female Reader

Warnings: Fluffy fluff, little agurments, angst (if you squint)

Summary: Shoutos has been gifted with your presence which blossums into a wonderful friendship and hes never been happier, but he wants to know, does he make you as happy?

Authors note: just a little fic. Not edited completely 😅

In all the years Shouto has lived he has never felt more complete as he does right now. He finds himself in his third year, surrounded by friends, whom he considers family. Each classmate gives him a sense of belonging that he was neglected in his younger years. The amount of support his mentors and fellow comrades have expressed has molded him into a better hero. One person, in particular, has changed him, but into a better man. Every glance and laugh they share has only left a warm within him. The late-night conversations you both had are memories he fondly revisits when he feels low. He can’t help the smiles that threaten to show when the end of his high school journey approaches. His mind is filled with thoughts of his classmates, and if he will be able to maintain the strong bonds, he’s created with each of them.

As shouto glances at you, he realizes he no longer hides his smile. You naturally bring him into a happy mood without much effort. The memories you both share always warm his heart, each moment better than the last. This isn’t to say you both didn’t have your arguments. The smallest of things, but at one point, shouto made the mistake of taking his anger out on you. The stress that weighed on his shoulders became overbearing, and it showed. You being the wingless angel he knows, approached him to cheer him up, but unfortunately, no good deed goes unpunished. He yelled a cold blast of wind, threatening your existence surrounded the room you’re in as he blamed you for his hidden insecurities and fears that quickly brought you to tears. It took weeks for shouto to get the courage to face you without crumbling, shame written all over his face as he begged for your forgiveness. He had never felt such a crippling fear, the thought of losing you made him sick, and he vowed to never let it happen again. He became more aware of his actions, always thinking before he speaks around you. At first, it concerned you as he looked like he was fighting an internal battle, but you both turned it into something healthy. You informed him that he can ask if he’s unsure, that as long as he didn’t yell, you would be okay with it. Little did you know he had so many questions, some that genuinely showed his innocence.

"If you're upset, would you prefer drinks first, then food, or food first then drinks? I don’t understand the protocol of comfort because depending on the level of anger, you might want something else….so? Which would you prefer?"

"I like it when you rub my head, but I don’t know if this is too intimate of action between friends; I don’t want you to be uncomfortable. Yet you have played with my hair on a few occasions, and I wanted to make it known that I enjoy it. Is it possible to do it more often? Should I ask you first or wait until you naturally offer?"

"If you’re obviously cold, should I provide you my jacket or hold your hand? My quirk is very useful in the winter, but if you prefer my jacket, I would happily offer it to you, but isn’t it more practical for me to keep you close and provide warmth?"

These cute questions are mostly concerning your boundaries; little did you know that you harbored Shoutos’ mind more than he’s willing to admit. It’s become a natural thing for him that he doesn’t find abnormal. It's similar to breathing in his eyes. Thinking of you provides a sense of peace; other times, it's genuinely just an enigma to which he just approaches you or Midoriya and asks to elaborate on his thought.

On this particular day, shouto finds himself puzzled. Something within him wants to express his feelings towards you, to show you how happy you make him and ask if he provides you the same joy.

He turns in his seat, watching you struggling to braid a section of hair. "Y/n, can I help?" Your eyes fix on him, and a bright smile reflects that his request is approved. He inches closer, taking the hair tie from your lips, and he runs his fingers gently through your strands. "Thank you, sho. My arm still hurts from fighting that burglar, so I can’t move it too much" He nods, finishing your braid effortlessly. He had watched you plenty of times fixing your hair, so he could copy your movements easily. As he tightens the hair tie at the end of the braid, he lays his hand on your shoulder and slowly lets the heat rise into his fingertips before massaging them into the strained muscle. As he applies pressure in circles, he hears a light sight escape your lips, a sign that he’s rubbing you properly. "Y/n? Do I make you happy?" he asks bluntly. The giggle that’s ripped from your mouth shocks him. He tilts his head in confusion as he fails to understand the humor in his question. "Of course, you make me happy. I’m the happiest person in the world when I’m with you, sho." 

He smiles as you lean on him, nudging your head against his cheek, another thing he’s grown to love. Any form of intimacy with you, he welcomed, physical or emotional. It always felt better when it’s from you. "I highly doubt you’re the happiest person in the world because that would be me." He whispers against your ear. He feels your body tense up, and panic starts to rise within him. Did he do something wrong? Should he apologize first or wait for you to tell him what he’s done wrong? A hundred thoughts fight against the walls of his mind as you lift your chin to make eye contact with him, a grin adorning your features.

"Is that so? I’ve never heard you admit such a thing sho. Please do elaborate on this topic?" You tease, nudging him a little.

"You make me happy. You wish for me to elaborate, but I have to admit I am a little nervous. The best way I can explain is that you’re special. I adore you in ways I don’t experience with others. I like being around you, and I always look forward to when we meet again, even if there’s only a 5-minute break in-between. I want to make you happy because you’ve made me feel things I never could imagine. I want you to feel those things. Basically y/n," he leans down and kisses your temple before holding your jaw. "You make me smile."

[lightdancer1]

Another excerpt from the upcoming one shot of the Dragon and the Fireball:

Ty Lee looked at it with surprise.

"A.....Pai Sho tile?"

She shook her head.

"General-Prince she already played the game. She's superb at it."

The General-Prince's smile became a colder one.

"There are games, Ty Lee of the Sangha, and there are games."

She blinked.

"You know that word?"

His smile became colder still.

"I do. Do you have any idea what it means?"

She shook her head.

And then he sat down in the dirt beside her as the Unagi turned its gaze to him and stared for a long time as he nodded to it respectfully.

"When I found out, and found out what your friend, my niece, knew, I began to wonder how much I might have misjudged her. I am not entirely sure that I did. The way she snapped under the Comet was there for a long time. Or at least I tell myself that. And yet she knew, all along."

"Knew what?"

Iroh leaned forward and here she could see why the Warriors called him the Dragon, for his motions were slow and yet inexorable, a vast power that could be awe-inspiring and destructive there when he wasn't hiding behind the hedonist who loved tea. Which was there and a part of him, but as much a mask that fit by exaggerating traits as it was a truth.

"She knew that you, your parents, and all your sisters are children of Air Nomads."

Ty Lee's eyes went very wide.

"But that's...."

Iroh grinned and shook his head.

"Not so. There were survivors. There always survivors. They were nomads, Ty Lee. They were never altogether within that place. Two hundred and sixty thousand were slain in the Temples, for the Airbenders were spending a holy day in those places. Fifty thousand lived without, half of whom were Airbenders. And half of whom were not."

He leaned back a bit.

"Your ancestors were close friends of Sozin and he did not always welcome that, as Roku could note. But he did not punish it, either. He said "I decide who's an Air Nomad" and decreed that they, and others like them, would be allowed to live. Airbending was prohibited on pain of death and it was culled, but there are, after a century, a hundred thousand living descendants of Air Nomads in the Fire Nation. Your ancestors were among them. It was a secret, for to note who they were would risk that zealous enforces of the Fire Lord's will would hunt them down and destroy them. Azula was always curious, and so she found out."

He shook his head, sadly.

"So she knew. She had a means to coerce you, and your family, that would have enabled her to run roughshod over anything and everything. And she never used it. Nor, by the look in your eyes, did she tell you."

Ty Lee was blinking and breathing rapidly.

"Does Aang know?"

Iroh shrugged.

"I do not intend to tell him. I do not think he would like to know that the Fire Nation wielded Air Nomads across cultures and a century of loss of ties to an old world against each other. My grandfather and my father would have found it hilarious. My brother....I am not sure what precisely he would have made of it. He probably would have ordered the families destroyed had he been curious enough to find them."

Iroh shrugged again.

"There are games, and there are games. What appears to be a tile might be a gateway to something very different. A world within the world, of knowledge, and of the right to stand against tyrants and hold them to heel."

Ty Lee looked at the tile.

"Is telling me who my ancestors were a threat?"

Iroh's smile was cold again.

"Not at all. It's intended to be a peace gesture. I know my statements on my niece are not secrets, and even if it might be hard, or impossible, to forgive the dilemmas she forced she was your closest friend. If I were to invite you to the White Lotus, I could not do so in good faith and leave that ghost unaddressed, or the idea that I would see her as the feral animal that idiot guard insisted."

He snorted.

[thathopelessromantic]

Why Should We

Fandom: Boku no Hero Academia/My Hero Academia Rating: Explicit Pairing: Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead/Toshinori Yagi | All Might Note: from the kiss prompt “15. A fierce kiss that ends with a bite on the lip, soothing it with a lick” that then got out of hand

If pressed later, Shouta would definitely try to blame it on the alcohol, but really he barely had anything and his next move is almost entirely the fault of the noise Toshinori makes and just how good it sounds.

AO3: (x) 

Shouta grunts as Hizashi drops onto the barstool besides him, tossing his body weight around more than usual thanks to the copious amounts of alcohol he’s downed in the last few hours. It’s only Shouta’s mostly-sober status that keeps them upright on the barstools.

“Get off me.”

“Drinking was supposed to chill you out Sho,” Hizashi slurs against his back.

“I’m not drunk.”

“Well why the hell not?”

Shouta turns as much as he can to send a glare over his shoulder. “Someone needs to keep an eye on you idiots.”

Hizashi, despite appearing about five minutes away from passing out on the bar, has the presence of mind to sit up slightly, wagging his brows suggestively. “Keep an eye on who, exactly? Because I’m definitely not the blond you’ve been eyeing all night.”

Shouta looks instinctively across the room before he can remind himself of what a terrible idea it is to give Hizashi any ammo.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Hizashi laughs, loud enough to pull a few looks from the patrons around them at the bar, but those on the dance floor easily ignore the outburst. Everyone on the dance floor, including Toshinori. The tall man towers over most of the crowd but even through the thick throngs of people, Shouta can tell he’s dancing with someone and has been dancing with someone for most of the night.

“Just admit you wish you were the one getting up close and personal with the big guy on the dance floor and this night can get a lot better for everyone.”

Shouta seriously considers pushing Hizashi off the bar stool entirely, but it feels like too much of a reaction and then he would definitely never be left alone until he admitted to something. Not to mention listening to Hizashi’s whining about being pushed, let alone pushed to a filthy bar floor, would be exasperating.

“I’m just keeping an eye on him to make sure nothing happens.”

Hizashi laughs again, draping himself back over Shouta’s shoulders. “He’s the symbol of peace, I think he can handle himself if anyone gets a little too rowdy on the dance floor.”

“He regularly spits up blood on a good day, and now he’s already had at least one round, despite lacking a stomach.”

Hizashi rolls his eyes. “He barely touched his drink, stop being such a mother hen.”

Before Shouta can come up with a reply, Nemuri extracts herself from the crowd on the floor to join them – or more accurately find someone else to dance with. Hizashi, a more than happy and willing sacrifice, saves Shouta from her begging. If she was about two drinks less drunk that probably wouldn’t have worked, but for now the two stumbling idiots are happy to fall over each other on their way to the dance floor, slipping back into the throng of moving bodies and easily forgetting their stationary friend.

Shouta follows their movements for as long as he can, but they quickly get swallowed up by the shifting crowd. His eyes follow the moving people, unconsciously following the path right back to Toshinori. The blond is dressed in a criminally tight button up for the evening with the first few buttons open. It shows more of his thinned out frame than he usually likes, but Shouta can only appreciate how much it accentuates his still-broad shoulders and the severe taper into his thin waist and powerful hips. Unfortunately, since most of the surrounding population is not blind and most about three sheets to the wind and have lost most of their inhibitions, they have all also come to appreciate Toshinori’s form, and the skilled way he still moves his body.

Toshinori looks up from his latest dance partner, as if sensing Shouta watching him, and immediately meets his eye from across the room. Even from this distance, there is something captivating and dangerous in those dark blue eyes. Shouta grabs his drink from the bar, downing what’s left in a single swig. When he turns around, Toshinori has moved, but it only takes a moment for Shouta to find him, staying on the fringes of the crowd, still watching Shouta.

Shouta slides off the bar stool, thankful he doesn’t stumble or sway getting back on his feet. He stalks across the room, not entirely sure what he’s doing even as he’s aware he’s making a beeline for Toshinori.

The closer he gets, the more debauched Toshinori looks. His already wild blond hair is in further disarray, the shirt that was most definitely tucked into his pants at the start of the night is untucked and wrinkled at the bottom from the hands that had to have had part in pulling it up. More than the first few buttons of his shirt are undone, as well as a few at the bottom.

“Having fun?” Toshinori asks as Shouta approaches him, a teasing glint in his eyes, as if he has any idea exactly how devious he looks disheveled like this.

“It looks like someone was,” Shouta grabs the collar of his shirt, pointlessly straightening it.

“It was just dancing,” Toshinori says easily.

“Seems a little handsy for dancing,”

The light in Toshinoir’s eyes only seems to grow as he watches Shouta. “I seem to remember someone else enjoying being handsy when we danced.”

“That was once,” Shouta says. He hates how much he wants Toshinori to touch him right now and how pointed it seems that Toshinori is keeping his hands at his side while Shouta straightens his clothes.

Toshinori smiles placidly. “It doesn’t have to be.”

Shouta’s self control fraying as the seconds pass he pushes closer into Toshinori’s space, stupidly pleased at how the blond doesn’t move back. “Are you asking for something? Why don’t you actually use your words.”

Toshinori grabs him, suddenly, finally, his hands so large and so hot even through the layer of Shouta’s shirt. “Fine. Let’s stop pretending we’re just here as friends to let loose when we both know we’ll be ending up in your bed at the end of this.”

Shouta shoves even closer, pushing Toshinori until his back hits the wall. Reaching up, he buries his hands in those wild blond locks, pulling Toshinori down for a bruising kiss. Toshinori squeezes him tighter before one hand trails up to Shouta’s own hair, musing the loose bun he has it in and responding to the kiss with fervor. Shouta bites at his bottom lip, the gasp Shouta feels more than hears forcing his mouth open further.

Shouta licks at Toshinori’s lip, already feeling swollen from his harsh treatment, as he pulls back for a breath.

“Sorry, that was a little hard.”

Toshinori’s tongue darts out to soothe the bite as well, keeping Shouta close enough that his warm breath falls across his flushed skin. “Don’t apologize.”

“With an attitude like that, no wonder they were getting handsy on the dance floor.”

Toshinori leans down for another kiss and Shouta easily gives in, running his other hand across his chest. He hits bare skin, the open buttons leaving little in his way, and tugs at the collar to pull his shirt open even more. Breaking the kiss Shouta bites at Toshinori’s sharp jaw, soothing the nip with another kiss and trailing down his elegant neck with similar love bites. The music is so loud he thinks he has to be imaging the deep moan that comes from Toshinori but it goes to his head anyways.

“Maybe I was just doing it to make you jealous.”

Shouta bites at his collar, harsher than before, but Toshinori doesn’t even flinch, only tightens his hold on Shouta’s hair and tilts his head to give him better access. “I’m not jealous,” Shouta mutters.

“Then maybe you shouldn’t be leaving marks,” Toshinori suggests in a too-easy voice. It’s a challenge if Shouta has ever heard one.

Renewed motivation, Shouta returns to his ministrations. He finds a sensitive spot, the juncture of his throat and shoulder, where even just a light kiss has Toshinori writhing against him and he can’t help himself. Toshinori’s hips thrust against him inadvertently, and even through their jeans his arousal is obvious, straining the impossibly tight pants he’s squeezed himself into for the night. Shouta lets got of Toshinori’s shirt to trail his hand further down, brushing against the bulge at his hip and Toshinori groans above him.

If pressed later, Shouta would definitely try to blame it on the alcohol, but really he barely had anything and his next move is almost entirely the fault of that very sound and just how good it sounds. Popping open the straining button, Shouta shoves his hand down Toshinori’s jeans. The blond stutters against him, hips thrusting into the touch even as Toshinori gasps.

“What-”

“You’re not wearing any underwear?”

“I didn’t think I’d be in pants this long, honestly.”

Shouta growls against his throat, wrapping a hand around Toshinori’s thick cock, feeling it pulse hot and heavy in his hand. There really is a limited range of motion between how close their bodies are pressed together and the stupidly tight fit of his pants, but he does the best he can. He pumps his hand up and down, the soft velvet drag of skin on skin intoxicating in the heated moment. Toshinori’s muffled groans against his ear egging him on.

“What-what the hell are you doing?”

“Making it up to you for forcing you to stay in these pants for so long,” Shouta replies with a nonchalance he doesn’t feel. His own jeans are uncomfortably tight and he knows there is no way Toshinori is not also extremely aware of the erection rubbing against his thigh.

Shouta twists his hand in such a way that Toshinori tosses his head back with a harsh curse. His hands find Shouta’s hips with a bruising grip, pulling him impossibly closer. He widens his stance, just slightly, but it gives Shouta more room to move his hand. He responds to the silent invitation, stroking the full length of Toshinori offered to him. His other hand pulls Toshinori’s head down for another kiss. The man’s heady scent surrounding him, his taste in his mouth, is more intoxicating than any drink Shouta’s had. And when he comes just from Shouta’s hand, moaning his name against his lips, Shouta thinks its something he could become addicted to.

Before he can even ask, Toshinori reaches into one of his front pockets, producing a plain handkerchief and offering it to Shouta for his hand. Shouta takes it with a huff.

“Take that smug look off your face.”

“Oh I’m far too satisfied for that,” Toshinori replies with an almost dreamy look. But there’s still something dangerous in the lidded look he has as he watched Shouta tuck him back into his jeans and button them back up.

Shouta shoves the soiled handkerchief into his own pocket. He’s not sure if he’s thinking more of his own neglected erection or just pulling more of those sounds from Toshinori as he steps back and says, “Let’s go.”

He turns away, but Toshinori grabs his wrist, turning him back around. Shouta stumbles slightly, but Toshinori catches him easily, one powerful thigh ending between Shouta’s own, his other hand sliding to cup his ass. Shouta nearly hisses at the drag of Toshinori’s leg between his.

Toshinori holds him in place with a single hand. “Just a moment.”

“What?”

“You can’t walk around like that,” Toshinori says with a pointed look down. “Even if you could handle the���discomfort, people would notice.”

Shouta is torn between wrenching himself out of Toshinori’s hold and grinding against his thigh. “No one is looking at me.”

Toshinori dips his head, licking a hot stripe up Shouta’s neck before reaching his ear with a soft, breathless whisper. “I am.” Using only the hand he still has on Shouta’s ass, he moves him, grinding Shouta’s clothed dick against his own leg. Shouta’s body moves of its own accord, repeating the movement without any further guidance and he groans.

“Don’t worry, I won’t ravish you here in the bar,” Toshinori says stupidly calm compared to the way Shouta’s blood is rushing. “I just want you to be able to get home alright.”

Shouta’s head drops to Toshinori’s shoulder and he considers biting the still exposed skin of this throat, just as revenge. All he can see in his mind’s eye is Toshinori stripping him down and taking him over the bar, other patrons – and their coworkers – be damned.

“Toshinori,” Shouta moans – pleads – against him. “Please, touch me.”

Toshinori’s other hand joins his first behind Shouta, moving him ever so slightly harder but not nearly touching Shouta how he needs. “That would be indecent.”

Shouta almost laughs. “You didn’t seem all that concerned about public decency a few minutes ago.”

Toshinori shrugs easily. “I’ve already been arrested for public indecency. I’m just trying to protect your reputation.”

Ignoring the obvious flaw in Toshinori’s statement, considering they were both active participants, Shouta perhaps even more so, the surprise is enough to freeze his movements. “You were what?”

Toshinori drags him closer, nearly lifting Shouta’s feet off the ground before dragging his hips back down, forcing Shouta to focus again on exactly what Toshinori wants him to focus on. “I’ll tell you about it later.”

His hand goes back to Shouta’s hair, tilting his head for a heated kiss. A moment later Shouta comes in his pants like he’s a goddamn teenager again with no self control, still rutting against Toshinori’s leg.

He takes a moment to catch his breath, but as soon as Shouta’s legs don’t feel like they might give out beneath him, he pulls Toshinori off the wall.

“Go find a taxi because if we’re not home in five minutes, you’ll be ‘ravishing’ me in the nearest alleyway.” Shouta growls, ignoring the fact they’re a minimum ten minute drive from either of their apartments.

If Toshinori is aware of the distance, he doesn’t give any indication as he nearly flies out the nearest exit to comply.

[orwocolor]

Love Thy Neighbour - Chapter Five

Pairing: Gwilym Lee x Reader

Word Count: 3.8k

Warnings: Nighmares

Summary: Your friend is there for you when you need him, and maybe you’re starting to feel something more.

Author’s Note: IT FEELS GREAT TO BE BACK!!! Comments and reblogs are always very appreciated :) Check my masterlist to read the previous chapters. Dedicated to my sweetie @justgwilym.

“Y/N! I’m back!” a shout comes from the hall and a loud bang of the door closing shut announces Gwil’s return.

You struggle to get to your feet but the moment your weight shifts to your injured ankle, you hiss through gritted teeth. There is not much left to do but to remain on the couch, nonchalantly sprawled out as if the position you’ve gotten into was intended.

“Erm, Y/N?” Gwil makes a move to the kitchen when he stops dead in his tracks as he spots you lying on the couch, your legs swung over the armrest in an awkward angle.

“Did you get the ice cream?” you ask innocently to divert his attention from the obvious mishap you’ve managed to cause in his 10-minute-long absence.

His brows furrow and he licks his lips before he responds. “Yes, I did. Care to explain what you’re doing here?”

“Oh, haven’t you heard about the new yoga position?” The whole situation is so bizarre, you can’t prevent a small giggle from escaping you. “Lying sideways on a couch with one arm squashed between your body and the cushion, and with your legs hanging over the armrest in a way to successfully feel the blood in your legs draining away so that you’re sure you’re gonna have pins and needles in them afterwards for hours, well… That’s the good stuff right there, man.” Your eyes sparkle with glee and, to continue in your blatant lie, you mean to throw your hair over your shoulder as if to imply there’s no room for arguing and that the conversation is over, but as you jerk your head, instead of your hair flawlessly flying around your face in a perfect way, it gets stuck underneath your shoulder and you smack your head against a throw pillow.

Despite your burst of giggles being muffled by the pillow, your laughter is evident in the way your body uncontrollably shakes on the coach.

Gwilym is laughing now too and after quickly discarding the grocery bags at the kitchen island, he rushes to your side. With one of his strong arms supporting your back and his warm fingers taking a hold of your hand, he helps you stand up, an occasional giggle escaping either his or your lips, and sets you down again. He takes a seat right next to you and throws you a quizzical look, his eyebrows arched in question and a glint of amusement still present in his blue eyes.

You let your gaze rest on his face for a moment before you spit out the truth.

“Okay, fine. I just wanted to get us some popcorn and I couldn’t recall where exactly I left it the last time the girls were over for a movie night. So, I figured I might as well find it myself. But I couldn’t find the bloody crutches…” you trail off and throw your arms in a dismissive gesture.

“Although I bet the picture of you jumping on one foot just to promptly crash down on the sofa must have been hilarious,” he starts and nudges you with his shoulder, “you should have waited for me, I’m sure I would be able to find the popcorn myself,” he continues softly and brushes a strand of your hair that has fallen to your eyes.

“Well, you were already getting the ice cream I’d sent you for, so.” You shrug and shake your head. “I guess,” you pause and look around your living room, which is uncharacteristically tidied up, the result of Gwilym’s frequent visits he’s been paying you every day since the accident. Your life hasn’t been the same since he moved next door, has it? “Nevermind.” You give him a smile, but it’s not quite reaching your eyes. “What are we having for dinner?” you ask instead, hoping he’ll drop the previous subject.

That earns you a wide grin from Gwil and you release a sigh of relief. He promptly stands up to rummage through the bags he’s brought with him; the rustle of his socks against the carpet has become a familiar sound by now.

“Ta da!” He turns around to reveal two packages of frozen vegetables.

“Really?” You can’t believe this man. “Really?” you echo with disbelief seeping to your voice.

“What?” he tries defensively. “Ever since our journey to the hospital, I’ve been craving some good ol’ risotto. And since you didn’t let me cook it for you that night from our makeshift ice-packages, I had to go and buy new ones.” He moves to the kitchen area and starts storing various items into their designated places. God, a week in your kitchen and he already knows what needs to be put where, probably orienting there much better than you do.

“The vegetable had been out of the freezer for several hours so by the time we got back, it had turned into a mush and you know it,” you shout at him to the kitchen, your voice louder so as to howl down the kitchen cabinets being open and closed again.

Gwilym’s head peers over the kitchen island.

“Spoilsport.”

“I’ve still got one hand that’s alright so don’t be surprised when a pillow lands on your head,” you say matter-of-factly but reach for remote control to turn on the telly.

“I doubt that, I know your aim,” he answers after a minute, busying himself with the meal preparations.

Oh, really? Well, in that case…

You grab one of the cushions and toss it in his direction, but it plops down on the kitchen tiles, a good six feet away from him. Gwil barks out a laugh and you groan in defeat, but when he bends down to lift the pillow from the floor and get even with you, it’s your turn to laugh out loud when the pillow almost knocks down a rubber tree standing in the opposite corner of the room.

“I’m making dinner, okay, I’m distracted!” he explains, a shy smile playing on his lips.

“And I’m injured,” you retort in the same manner.

“Peace?” he asks softly and arches his eyebrows.

“Peace,” you agree, smiling, and let him get back to cooking dinner for you.

Mindlessly flicking through the channels, you watch Gwil from the corner of your eye as he turns on the stove and tosses the vegetable into a frying pan, the water with rice already bubbling in the background.

You get lost in your thoughts as they swirl in your mind with pictures of the last couple of days.

Gwilym’s kept his promise and has been coming over to your place practically every day. Apart from cooking and keeping your flat clean and tidy, which is something you will be forever grateful for because with both of those chores you just can’t be particularly bothered even when your ankle isn’t protesting with every little movement, Gwilym has been most of all keeping you company. Jane and Charlotte have popped by every now and then to help you with showering (the bloody tube, why not just install a shower stall?) or to spend the movie night at yours on one occasion, for which Gwil has always retired to his own apartment, not meaning to intrude on your tradition.

One night, he also invited Ben to come over, of course with your permission, and all three of you played several board games. You’ve tried to repay Gwil’s care by helping him run his lines for his auditions. At first, you were absolutely awful, giggling and feeling warmth spreading across your cheeks, but soon enough you got the hang of it and managed to read the lines with pretended professionalism.

You and Gwil have also started watching several TV shows, especially the cooking and home design ones, which were the best to turn your brains off to (and occasionally doze off to) in the late evenings. Being the gentleman he is, Gwil refused to join you in your bed at first and watched the screen of your laptop form the chair snuggled in the corner of your bedroom. But eventually, he yielded to your pleading eyes and stubborn refusal to press play until he stopped being so silly. Nonetheless, he has always made sure to lie carefully on the covers of your bed even though you were tucked in so that there has remained a duvet between your bodies. Every now and then he fussed for a minute with pillows that were supporting your foot to make sure that your ankle remained elevated just to give you a sheepish smile when he noticed you were watching him with amusement.

You’re smiling now too at the picture of his lovely eyes adorned with small wrinkles in the outer corners. Holding the TV remote still in your hand, you realise you can’t find anything of interest and so you turn the TV off again.

Besides, the dinner is almost ready based on the delicious smell.

~

“So, who was it?” Jane asks matter-of-factly as she stretches her arms for you to lean on.

“That was Gwil.” Grabbing her forearms, you carefully swing your injured leg over the bathtub rim. “I must have mentioned him,” you add quickly when Jane cocks her perfectly shaped eyebrow. You avoid the eye-contact, suddenly focused on making sure the knot on the towel wrapped around your torso is tied properly.

“No, you haven’t. All you said was that your neighbour had been taking care of you.” Slinking your arm around her shoulders, you shift your weight and get yourself out of the bathtub completely. You pull your face at the odd sensation in your ankle, the pain you have been gradually becoming used to. “I only assumed you were talking about Mrs Thompson from 3A. You’re not the type to befriend your neighbours so eagerly.”

You let the last remark slip and berate yourself inwardly for not telling Jane the identity of your nurse/cleaner/companion sooner. Now it looks like you have kept it from her because there was a reason to. Which there was not. Nuh-uh.

You could have been spared of this conversation, had they not bumped into each other at your door as Jane was letting herself in and Gwil was leaving for his own flat. If only you hadn’t been so selfish, happy to be in his company, and would have let him go a few minutes sooner.

“So, who is he?” Jane presses and takes another towel from a nearby handle to wrap it around your shoulders.

No longer having the strength to keep upright, you perch yourself on the bathtub edge, the cold porcelain causing goose bumps on your thighs. “I already told you.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Look, he’s just a friend, okay?” you finally give up. “He’s helping me with cooking and tidying up and overall, he’s just keeping me company. He’s currently looking for a job, which means that when he’s not auditioning for a role, he’s usually home anyway, so why not hang out together? So yes, he’s my friend.”

“I’m your friend, too, you know?” Jane offers.

“But you’ve got a full-time job and live several bus and tube stops away, not next door. It’s just a matter of proximity.”

“Aaand, what kind of proximity are we talking about here?” Jane’s eyes glint mischievously, and you spray her with droplets of water that have been clinging to your fingers. “Fine, fine,” she laughs and before handing you your bathrobe, she wipes her slightly damp face into it, which earns her a displeased groan from you.

“Okay, I’ll drop it,” she continues once she settles you on the coach, “but you can bet I’m telling Charlotte.”

You roll your eyes, but do not argue. The moment Jane makes up her mind, there’s not much you can do about it.

“Speaking of Charlotte, anything new about her birthday party?”

“I thought you would never ask!” Her eyes sparkle and she pulls out a thick notebook from her purse. “I’ve got so many ideas. Okay, hear me out. Glitter.”

“No,” you laugh out loud.

“Come on!”

“No, I’ve got the veto and I’m exercising it right now.”

“Urgh, fine.” She turns several pages. No way the idea revolving around glitter has been so elaborated.  

“A movie night party?”

“We all have had a movie-themed birthday party. And I think Charlotte’s had two already.”

“Okay, not a movie night.” She crosses out the line in her notepad and is leafing through it some more.

“Jungle.”

“Jungle?”

“Yeah, jungle. Remember, when she had visited the Panama islands, she just couldn’t stop gushing over it. Her flat is already filled with hundreds of plants so as for the decoration, we don’t have to do much. Just a couple of balloons, fruity drinks and sweets, maybe we can set the thermostat to a higher temperature. And if we don’t manage to clean it up there in time, we can say it’s just part of the décor, right?”

“I kinda like it,” you admit with a smile and Jane’s winning grin seals the deal. “Yeah, I can imagine it. Yellow and dark green balloons, some more plants, fruity drinks. I’m on board.”

“Great! And it’s not going to be so expensive either, which is more than appreciated. By the way, how are you doing financially? Is there anything I can do in this respect?”

“No, there’s no need, thank you,” you wave her off. “The sick leave is not so bad, and I’ve still got the money my grandpa left me.”

“Wait, you’ve still got that?”

“Yeah, I couldn’t figure out what to spend it on. I’ve got everything I need; you see. But I guess it’s losing its worth as time goes by. I should invest it rather sooner than later.”

“Sounds right to me.” She gives it some thought. “Oh, maybe we could throw a massive birthday party for Charlotte!”

“Look, I love you both, but no,” you giggle.

“It was worth a try,” she chirps. “We’ll plan the details next time I come around to help you shower?”

“Actually, I’m getting much better with the crunches; the wrist has almost healed. So next time, it’s gonna be without the striptease for free for you, I’m afraid.”

“Ah, dang it, you’ll rob me of the highlight of my week.”

~

You look up from your laptop screen and give Gwil a questioning look as he enters your bedroom, dragging his bag and jacket behind him. He simply drops them on the floor and crashes down next to you. Promptly closing his eyes and releasing a deep sigh, he goes motionless.

“That bad?” you ask after a few seconds of silence.

“The worst,” he groans and drags his hand down his face.

“I’m sorry,” you whisper back and rub your palm against his shoulder. He peers with one eye over his splayed hand at you and the line between his brows deepens.

“It was awful,” he huffs and proceeds to stare at the ceiling as his fingers remain on his jaw.

“Wanna talk about it?” you ask and place your laptop on the floor before you twist on your side and give Gwil your complete attention.

"Yes,” he responds eventually. “Or no. Yes. I don’t know.”

“Well, we’ve got time, and if you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine too.”

You mean to give him a reassuring hug but because of your position on the bed, it ends up looking as if you were cuddling up to him. Once you realise your mistake, you shuffle a few inches back. Your palm, however, warm and reassuring, remains on Gwil’s chest.

“It was awful,” he echoes and turns his head to look into your eyes. “Ben and I had been waiting ages for the casting director to show up and when he did, he wasn’t ready at all, kept calling me ‘Will’, yelled at me for not reading my lines when it actually wasn’t my cue, overall dismissed my approach to the character and then he just waved me off. This time, he didn’t even bother to tell me I would be hearing from them soon.”

Your thumb starts drawing soothing circles on Gwilym’s chest as any words of reassurance die in your throat.

“I’d been nervous about that audition the whole day and for what reason?”

“Well,” you try, sure that nothing you will just say can elevate his mood. You have found out a few days ago, that the best cure for Gwil’s brooding isa  small glass of something stronger and good night sleep. But you could not exactly stay silent. “If it was really the worst, if you really reached the deep, deep bottom, then it can only get better, right?” You nudge him gently and give him a small smile which he reciprocates.

“Right,” he sighs, and his gaze falls again.

“Shall I get out the tumblers?”

“Not really,” he pauses and ponders over it. “Can we just watch something?”

“Sure!” you agree eagerly and dive down to retrieve your laptop. Quickly searching for a festive episode of Bake Off, you place the laptop on your thighs, rotating it so that Gwil can see, and after a few minutes of making up your mind, you press yourself to Gwil’s side. Although you are aware that it is going to take some time for the clouds on his brows to evaporate, a warm touch might help at least a bit.

After the first Bake Off challenge, Gwil snakes his arms beneath you and wraps it around your shoulders, giving you a squeeze. And several minutes later, he feels exhaustion creeping up at him, the stressful events of the day finally taking their toll. He tries to fight the sleep, but he knows it is a losing battle.

~

A heavy weight of darkness falls on your chest and pins you down. You make an attempt to take a deep breath, but the invisible rock crashes you down. Pushing your arms upwards, you try to fight the suffocating darkness, but your palms are met with cold emptiness. Your mouth falls open and a strangled whimper escapes you, then another, until you’re screaming at the top your lungs despite making no sound at all. Your blood rushing in your ears and your heart pounding loudly is cut through with a voice calling your name.

“Y/N!”

You jerk yourself to sit upright in your bed, gasping for breath with eyes wide open. You pull a face at the pain shooting in your wrist and ankle.

A pair of warm arms wrap around your torso, fingers gently stroke your sides and every slow caress wipes the god-awful nightmare far away.

“You’re good, everything is alright, you’re not alone, I’m here,” Gwil keeps muttering into your hair as he presses you to his side, his embrace firm, letting you know that everything he says is true. Taking a deep breath, you burrow your head into the crook of his neck. There are tears in the corner of your eyes but you blink them away and if one or two teardrops fall down your cheeks, they disappear on Gwil’s t-shirt, turning the material one shade darker, which no one can see anyway in the blackness-filled bedroom.

“I’m so sorry,” you whisper almost inaudibly against Gwilym’s chest once you calm down and at first, you’re not even sure whether he has heard you.

After a beat of silence, you hear the soft murmur of his voice. “Oh, darling, you have nothing to apologise for. What do you need? A glass of water? Maybe I should turn on the lights?”

“No, no, just –” you take a shaking breath, “just don’t go,” you breathe out eventually.

“Never,” he says and plants a soft kiss on the crown of your head.

~

Next morning, a ray of sunshine tickles your nose. You make a face, your eyes squeezing and nose scrunching up, and shuffle further away from the window to find retreat in a shadow. You slowly open your eyes and feel the dryness in your throat. Last night surges forward in your thoughts and you are filled with mixed feelings. Loneliness, shame, connection, relief, content.

Rolling over, you almost lie down on Gwilym’s hand, his arm stretched out before him, crossing the gap between your bodies, as soft snores leave his mouth every few seconds. His sleeping state allows you to take a proper look at his face. His piercing dark blue eyes are usually those that capture your attention but now when they are hidden behind the eyelids, you get the opportunity to inspect his face more carefully. Your eyes follow the lines of his prominent nose and cheekbones, spotting the birthmark on his right cheek, and fall on his pink lips, which are slightly open in his sleep. You have to smile; he looks utterly adorable. And you are positively grinning when he hums and smacks his lips.

“Good morning,” you whisper softly in case he has not woken up yet. But an almost inaudible groan confirms your suspicion.

He blinks away his sleep and gulps, his Adam’s apple bobbing, before his gaze falls on your face.

“Good morning,” he replies and brings his outstretched arm towards you to let his hand rub gently your shoulder. “How are you feeling?”

“Fine,” you admit truthfully and give him a smile. Meanwhile, your hand clasps over his. “You?”

“Yeah, I’m alright,” he says and looks up at you through his eyelashes.

You only nod but remain silent as you relish in the peaceful moment. None of you dares to move, certain that once you do so, the spell under which you both are will break. But at the same time, you long to bring him closer to you, to cross the invisible wall that is between you, the wall built from unspoken truths and confessions. However, you also realise how precarious it is to give in to that thought. The analogy of playing with fire comes to your mind but you frown inwardly, not entirely certain it fits. No, you feel the pull and you are sure so does he, the intangible power bringing you to one another. You picture yourself as a child playing with magnets and holding them in each hand to feel them inching closer. But both remain in safe vicinity so as not to jump in your hands and attach to each other. If that happens, you know there is no going back, the force too strong to allow them to let go on their own accord.

“Jane was here yesterday,” you whisper eventually, your head going around with everything that goes on in your mind.

“Yeah?” Gwilym’s eyes flick to yours.

“Yeah. We’re going to organise a jungle-themed party for Charlotte.”

“Nice,” he says appreciatively and gives you a smile. “You still wanna bake that cake? I think we could replace blueberries and raspberries with pineapple, kiwi, and maybe mango?”

A smile tugs at the corners of your lips and you squeeze his hand that you still hold in yours. “I would love that.”

~ 

Taglist: @lv7867, @spacedustmazzello, @queenwouldyourathers, @im-an-adult-ish, @fairestkillerqueenofall, @supernaturalee, @queenlover05, @geek-and-proud, @chlobo6​, @mrsmazzello​, @timeandpixiedust​, @kerouacsroad​, @gwilsmainhoe​

[struggling-author]

How are each of the Azulaang kids like? (bending, personality, etc)?

sorry I left this waiting for so long. I‘m really passionate about these characters and I wanna do this right but I simply don’t have the time for it right now. So here’s a short sum-up for all of them, and I hope to do a more detailed version at some point.

Ursa

the oldest, firebender, and quite skilled, but she hates using it and will only do so in absolute emergencies like when her family is in danger, a peaceful soul and much more low-energy than the rest of her family, likes reading, culture and politics, is about the same age as Izumi and her best friend and later advisor, she’s very interested in airbender culture, but more involved in fire nation politics, her cultural heritage gives her a unique perspective on most matters and she’s made it her life‘s mission to improve the fire nation by integrating that perspective into her politics, she’s a big advocate for the merging of cultural ideas and especially interested in air nomad and fire nation unity, she’s a lesbian (like kya in the original) but I haven’t thought about who she‘ll end up with yet, she loves playing pai sho and other board games and is very good at it, also yes her name means Azula has reconciled with her mother, but it took a lot of time and effort on both sides, naming her daughter after her was azula‘s way of showing how far they‘d come and Ursa (sr.) could not have been happier

Zuki

the second oldest, airbender, suki likes to joke she was named after her but everyone knows it was actually after zuko, a bending prodigy, she’s basically a mini-azula but with aang‘s playfulness, an absolute menace who constantly keeps her parents and everyone else on their toes, I first wrote her mainly as a way for Azula to reconcile with her own past and also to show how she might have turned out with a happier childhood and better parents, but she grows into her own character later, she really picks up the air-nomad way of life, focusing on the nomad aspect, and travels all around the world on her bison-dragon (yes, Appa falls in love with Azula’s dragon and a new species is born, it’s Avatar, their animals are all like that) she really is that cool wine aunt and Idk if she ever settles down, Aang was obviously delighted to have an airbender and fostered and supported those ideas in her, but Azula made sure he didn’t push her into anything she didn’t want and that he never gave any of his children preferential treatment (because she knows all too well how that feels) this is also how Ursa came to learn all about airbending culture and customs, while Zuki mostly dozed off during those lessons, her sister often made Zuki play board games against her, which she hated at first because she hated sitting still and her sister would always win, but her ambitious nature drove her to continue trying and eventually she got quite good at it

Kuzon

third oldest, firebender (or maybe non-bender) here’s where it gets a little scarce, he’s kind of based on Bumi in LOK but I really haven’t thought too much about him yet, he’s a lot like Zuko in the sense that he’s not as naturally talented as Zuki and struggles to learn new things, at the same time he’s more naturally kind and empathetic, he still loves playing with his older sister and chasing after her but he often falls and can’t keep up, he also likes spending time with his other sister Ursa who at first is kinda annoyed by it as she’s in her teens, but essentially does a full 180 later and becomes the most supportive big sister, often reading to him and encouraging him even when he fails at something, he especially loves his uncle zuko and looks up to him, as you can see he spends most of his early childhood looking up to other people and chasing after his sisters, so it comes as a real suprise (and maybe much needed confidence boost) to him when his younger brother is born and seems to idolize him, again I’m passionate about all these characters so it makes me sad to have so little on him but I hope to develop him more later, maybe he joins the united forces when he’s older

Tenzin

I loved Tenzin in LOK so I really didn’t wanna change much about him, he has a great bond with Ursa since they share the same interests, and this bond continues later in life when they often work together on political matters like organizing the air and fire unity festival (the day of the massacre is a day of mourning in both nations, the festival follows the day after to celebrate their newfound unity, it’s a little weird the first years but quickly becomes an established tradition, I like to imagine that the air and fire nation grow to be closer than ever in the future atla universe) he and Zuki kind of represent the two sides of airbending culture, she stands for freedom and the nomad way of life, he is more concerned with repopulating the temples and the spiritual side of things, as said before, as a child he idolizes and clings to his older brother and they stay great friends all their life

That’s it for now, it ended up being much more than I expected. If you wanna learn more, @resplendentgoldenwings wrote another post that lines up with my ideas quite well, and is honestly just a great and heartfelt read. Find it here:

https://resplendentgoldenwings.tumblr.com/post/629372835478028288/r%CE%B9s%CE%AD-%CF%83f-%CF%84h%CE%B5-r%CE%B9%CF%82%CE%AD

and you can read two short fics featuring the kids on my AO3 (link in bio) with another one planned rn and hopefully coming soon

[downwiththeficness]

In the Bond-Chapter 12

Summary: Lilah often wished she’d never said yes to working with the Gecko brothers—usually while dodging gunfire. At no time was she regretting that decision more than when she’s hanging upside down from the ceiling, staring down a group of hungry culebras and one (1) extremely powerful sun god.

Word Count: ~3,500

Warnings: None

A/N: This is an AU of my Story In the Blood, which can be read here. Basically, this fic explores what would have happened if Lilah had met up with Geckos before she met Brasa.

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Things were much the same when Lilah got back to Jackknife Jed’s. Her room was as she’d left it, though looking at it didn’t make her feel at home. There was an emptiness that hadn’t been there before, though every possession she had was in its place. She sat heavily on the bed, falling to the side to rest against pillows that no longer smelled like her. Eyes catching the little glint of light on her nightstand, Lilah reached over and picked up the candle. Thumb popping off the top, she brought it to her nose.

Coffee. Caramel. She’d only just gotten home and Lilah was already missing him. He’d been understanding when she’d told him that she needed to go, that she risked further suspicion by staying away. Fifteen more messages appeared on her phone as they reached the surface, a group of culebras in tow. Each one was more annoyed than the last, one of which threatened to track her phone and ‘come get her ass’. Lilah knew that she was pushing the limits of her friends’ patience. She couldn’t stall any longer, though she desperately wanted to.

Her door was opened unceremoniously and Seth strolled in, “C’mon, got a bottle for you at the bar.”

Lilah had just enough sense to not throw the candle across the room, though she did tuck it protectively against her chest.

Without waiting for her to respond, he turned and headed down the hall. Lilah smiled, sighed, and pushed to sit upright. She replaced the candle and shoved from the mattress, her steps leading her down the familiar path to the bar.

It was a beat up thing, the varnish worn over time. On one end was a burn left over from a minor incident involving tequila and hairspray. The wood near the center was lighter than all the rest, too much use from their patrons. Lilah knew every nook and cranny of it, knew the feel of it beneath her fingers. The familiarity calmed the strange sense of displacement that had begun to build in her belly. Seth sat at one of the stools. As promised, a bottle of dark liquor was waiting for her along with an empty glass.

Lilah slid in beside him, taking the glass in her hand and rolling it around expectantly. Seth lit a cigarette, looked at her, and scoffed.

He signaled the bartender, “Bring us some ice.”

When the cup arrived, Seth picked it up and carefully tilted a single cube into Lilah’s glass. Then, he poured about two fingers of what smelled like bourbon and set the bottle down. Lilah saluted him and sipped.

With a hiss, she said, “You always drink such shit liquor.”

Lilah should have known better. She’d done this a lot in the first few months, trusting Seth to order for her when they were negotiating with partners. He drank what was available, and sometimes he drank to punish himself. Either way, it never tasted any good.

Chuckling, Seth shrugged, “I like what I like.”

“What you like is shit,” Lilah shot back.

Another shrug. They drank in silence for a while, the other patrons buzzing around them. Down the length of the bar, a group of friends laughed loudly. Behind them, a band played. Some people were listening and drinking, some were dancing. Others were playing pool in the room opposite. Everyone going about their lives, with no knowledge of the things Lilah had seen in the last year or so, what she had seen that night. The feeling of displacement began to build again. Lilah drained the glass.

“Rough trip?”

She shook her head, “No. Just long.”

Seth poured them both another, “You were gone a long time.”

Far longer than she had intended. Far shorter than it would have been, if Brasa hadn’t come for her.

“I was.”

He sucked his teeth, “You wanna talk about why?”

She thought about it. Lilah could, in this moment, come clean to him—tell him everything that had happened from the start. Unloading the story was an attractive choice, but as she looked at him all she could see was the hatred he’d shown for all the things she was now a part of. She knew how this would end, and Lilah couldn’t make herself give up the friendship they had, not yet. That time would come eventually.

“I had a lot on my mind,” she murmured, instead.

Seth nodded sagely, “Its been that kind of year.”

“Yeah, it has.”

That was an understatement to beat all understatements. When Lilah thought about the person she was a year previous, she didn’t recognize herself. Everything that had happened, had washed the old Lilah away, and she wasn’t sure that she even understood who the new Lilah was.

“But,” he continued, “Its pretty much over, right? We got a peace treaty. We got a steady income.”

“That we do.”

“You miss it, though, right?”

Lilah glanced at him, surprised.

He smiled, all charm, “The jobs. You miss ‘em. I saw you out there when we were getting the staff. Can’t hide that kind of enthusiasm.”

She laughed, “You’re right. I do miss it.”

Bumping her shoulder with his, Seth said, “We can still run a job here or there, we just get to be more picky about it.”

Lilah huffed, rolling her eyes. She picked up her glass and offered it up in a toast, “To doing it for fun.”

“To doing it for fun,” Seth echoed, clinking his glass with hers.

Another drink, another few moments of comfortable silence. Then Seth commented, “Speaking of jobs. Brasa has another for us.”

“Oh?”

Although she attempted to keep her voice even, Lilah inwardly flinched at the squeak underneath the single word she’d uttered.

“Yeah,” he confirmed around a swallow, “Supposed to go out there in a few days to discuss.”

Lilah hummed noncommittally, occupying herself with tapping more ice into her glass and following it up with another splash of bourbon.

Seth rested both elbows on the bar, his thumb rubbing at the skin between his brows, “Might be some travel involved. I mean, I know you just got home—we could delay.”

“No, no,” Lilah cut him off, “I’m good to travel.”

She only hoped Brasa would be good with it. Lilah had seen the reluctance in his eyes as she’d stepped away towards the car he’d lent her for the drive back. But, if this was his job that she was working, he might feel more secure in seeing her get on another plane.

The front door opened and Lilah saw Richie stride in pulling Kate along by her hand. His walk was more of a saunter, that ever confident smirk working its way around a lit cigarette. Kate leaned into him, her soft white sundress looking out of place next to his crisp three piece suit. They took a table near the back, a little conversation passing back and forth between them.

Lilah’s attention turned back to Seth, only to find he was looking at them, too. Though his expression was neutral, his hand was too tight around his glass.

“You miss him, though, right?”

Seth blinked, whatever he had been thinking lost to an easy smile, “What?”

Lilah nodded at his brother, “You miss him. Things are different, now, and you miss him.”

She thought me might do as he sometimes did when he didn’t want to talk about something, when she’d inadvertently touched on a nerve—get up and storm off, taking the bottle with him. But, he didn’t. He just sat there for a second, his tongue rolling along his lip.

“Things are different,” he said, eventually, “I can’t change that.”

“Doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to feel bad about it.”

“No, it doesn’t,” he murmured.

He still hadn’t looked at her. But, Lilah was relieved to hear that he was going to at least acknowledge that he was feeling some kind of way about his new reality.

“You wanna talk about it?”

He was silent long enough that Lilah knew she’d reached the end of his conversational initiative for the night. A small start, but a start nonetheless.

“You know,” she said, tapping another cube into her glass, “I used to work teams all the time—different teams, different specialties, different jobs. We’d come in, get the job done, and scatter. It was safer that way.”

She tipped the now half empty bottle, giving herself a smaller pour than she had previous. Lilah was not new to drinking her cares away, but the alcohol was making her warm and fuzzy. And loose-lipped.

“So, when I came to stay with you, it was so different. I felt...out of place. I didn’t know what my role was outside of the work.” She waved her hand, “Not that the work didn’t keep me busy.”

Seth was listening to her, but his gaze was in the middle distance. He gulped down the last of the liquor in his glass, dumping another healthy amount to replace it.

“But, I adjusted,” Lilah continued, “I accepted that I was going to always be in the middle of you two arguing, always going to be trying to convince you to move forward with the technology and technique.  I accepted that even though I wasn’t used to it, that didn’t mean that it was bad.”

She nudged him, “You’re not going to be alone just because he’s got some new shit going on. He loves you. You’ll always be his brother.”

He was quiet, drinking steadily, and then he laid his free hand on her arm, patted it twice, “Thanks.”

“No problem.”

***

As Seth had said, they went to Brasa’s office a few days later to discuss the next job. The conference table was, for once, clear of clutter and maps. They waited for Brasa to arrive, with only the sound of the air conditioning to keep them company. Seth sat next her Lilah, Richie to his left, all of them slumped in their chairs. It had been maybe twenty minutes since Javier had led them into the room, and boredom was quickly setting in.

Lilah sighed, and resisted reaching for her phone. Down here, the cell service was shoddy, at best. She doubted even a text message would come through. Next to her, Seth was tapping his fingers on the table in a syncopated rhythm that made her skin itch. Every second dragged into the next, time moving like molasses.

Working her jaw to loosen the muscles that had been clenched for far too long, Lilah gave in to the inclination to reach out to him. Letting air out of her lungs slowly, she sensed that warm part of her mind where he had made his home. Lilah could feel him there, as if he was waiting patiently for her touch.

She felt him respond, felt that warmth shift and stretch as it awakened. He dripped down along her spine, over her shoulders and between her breasts. Lilah had his attention, of that she was sure. She let him know where she was, let him know that she was waiting for him.

I’m on my way, was the response she got—not in so many words, but the message was received all the same. That feeling grew as he neared, tunneling out from under her skin to lay open and bare to the room. Lilah shifted in her seat, glancing at her friends to make sure they hadn’t noticed. And, it appeared, that they hadn’t. Too involved in their own thoughts to pick up on how flushed and hot she felt.

The door opened and he stepped through it. Lilah’s hands curled into fists in her lap, a long, slow breath pushing from her lungs. It wasn’t fair. It just wasn’t fair. She swallowed down the little whimper of frustration as she watched him walk towards the table. He was wearing a white button down that was open at the neck, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. In black, he looked sleek and intimidating. In white, every bend and curve of his body was outlined, the fabric stretched over his heavily muscled torso.

Though his eyes were covered by his ever present shades, she caught the little upward tick of his mouth, telling her that he’d noticed her reaction. Lilah did not hold back the eye roll as he sat down, his gloved hands folded in front of him.

“I apologize for the delay. Have you been waiting long?”

Richie leaned forward, “Long enough. You got details for us?”

Brasa nodded, “I do. This one should be easy for you.”

With a shrug, Richie replied, “Must not be worth it, if its so easy.”

Head tilting to the side, he regarded the younger immortal. It occurred to Lilah that Brasa might look at the three of them as wayward children, a group of ruffians trying to make waves. She wondered how he might view her, with the vast gulf of time between them. He’d witnessed things that Lilah couldn’t even imagine. And, here he was, sitting at the table with them.

Brasa licked his lips, saying, “I mean to say that this is in your wheelhouse.”

“Smash and grab?” Seth cut in.

Lilah scoffed, “What is it with you and the smash and grabs?”

Looking at her sidelong, he answered, “They’re more fun.”

He had a point, but only a small one.

“They’re like a thousand times more risky than a well thought out plan,” Lilah shot back, having had this argument many times before.

“Plan schman,” Seth quipped, “Nothing a little firepower can’t get us through.”

“Yeah, when we have the right firepower. Sometimes we’re up against SWAT teams. I don’t want another Delaware situation, if we can avoid it.”

He stuck his lip out in a pout, “You had fun in Delaware.”

Her eyes narrowed, “I almost had a heart attack in Delaware.” She waved at Richie, “And, we wouldn’t have even been there if your brother hadn’t wanted that exact fucking sword.”

“Hey,” Richie yelped, offended, “You tell me where you can find a sword forged by a priest possessed by a demon and inscribed with holy runes and I’ll be happy to follow along.”

She slapped her hand on the table, “I don’t even understand why you needed the sword in the first place.  There are plenty of other swords that aren’t guarded by state of the art tracking and security measures.”

A throat clearing stopped both of them, Brasa’s brows lifted while he waited, “What I want you to acquire is a book. It is in the private collection of a man named…” He trailed off, looking to Javier, who was standing not far away with a file in his hand.

“Adrian Lyle,” Javier offered, moving to set the file down in front of his boss.

Lilah noted that he was dressed down today. No three piece suit. Just a nicely tailored cardigan over a long sleeved button down. Crisp linen pants, soft italian leather shoes. Whatever they had been doing, it hadn’t been business.

Brasa opened the file, “We’ve attempted to purchase the book, of course. Apparently, our little hermit cannot be bought.”

Lilah shifted in her seat, “Have you tried threatening him?”

Lifting a shoulder, Brasa said simply, “Of course.”

She sighed, tucking her hair behind her ear, “What does that leave us to do?”

Seth leaned into her space, looking at her as if she were stupid, “We’re going to steal it.”

Duh, was the unsaid ending of that sentence.

“Not quite,” Brasa intoned, “I have contacted a Mr. Pickerelle regarding Mr. Lyle’s son. He’s levied quite a debt that Javier has just purchased with interest. I’d like you to pay Mr. Branden Lyle a visit and inform him of our counteroffer. If he refuses, we’ll collect the debt another way.” He paused, “Then, you can steal it.”

Lilah didn’t like the way he said ‘collect the debt another way’. It reminded her of some previous bosses, who had been more than unscrupulous about balancing their books. More than once, she’d up and left a job that was too much about vengeance and not enough about the mark, or the product.

Beside her, Seth fiddled with a Zippo, his eyes following the movement of his fingers, “That’s it? We go and try to collect the book as payment?”

Brasa nodded, “Its my understanding that our mark has a weakness for hard liquor and pretty women.”

Lilah felt her body warm as he glanced at her. She dropped her eyes to hide the pleasure of the compliment before it could show up on her face.

Seth laughed a little, “So, a honey pot.”

Lilah glared at him, “I hate it when you call it that.”

“That’s what it is.”

“I still hate the term.”

Seth lifted his hands defensively, “I didn’t make the term up, I’m just saying that’s what it means.”

Lilah sighed, resting her head on her palm and fixing the rest of the room in a baleful look, “I guess I’ll go buy a dress.”

“Excellent,” Brasa said as he closed the file and handed it off to Javier, “There is one other matter we should discuss while we are all here. I’m afraid it is not so easily resolved.”

Seth gave a frustrated groan and leaned back in his seat, “I knew there was more to it than this.”

Lilah watched Javier take a seat near Brasa, her mind wandering over the topic she thought was most likely to be discussed.  

“We’ve had a resurgence of attempted coups over the last few months, culminating in a hit to one of our supply trucks a few weeks ago. We lost a total of a thousand units, which we were never able to recover,” Brasa began, his voice slow and even, “Javier and I have tracked down the culprits and we are working to stem off the rhetoric they are using to subvert our influence over the population. However, we have just received confirmation a few days ago that its not about the blood.”

Richie smirked, “When is it not about the blood?”

Brasa flicked a glance at him that was eerily cold, “When its about power. We’ve discovered that the true intent of the uprisings was...a distraction, of sorts.”

Seth, who had leaned forward on his elbows, asked, “A distraction from what?”

Brasa paused only a moment, “They intend to tear open the door to Xibalba, to bring forth more of my kind to enslave the earth.”

Lilah had half a mind to act surprised by the revelation. Her acting skills were average, at best, and she almost immediately decided against it. Best to wait, for the moment.

“They can’t do that,” Richie asserted confidently, “They would need…”

“A hundred supplicants in offering and the heart of Xibalban,” Brasa finished for him. “Yes, I know.”

Lilah felt a chill walking lazily down her spine. He hadn’t told her that. He hadn’t at all implied that they were going to not only overthrow him, but tear out his heart and make it an offering to merge the worlds. She felt Brasa reach out to her, a warm hand on her shoulder. Her hand moved in an aborted effort to touch that warm little spot, barely managing to quell the motion.

“It is extremely unlikely that they would manage to kill me, not in their current state,” Brasa explained further, “But, they have detected that I have weaknesses, and I don’t doubt that they would be willing to use them to get what they want.”

Seth picked up the Zippo from where he’d set it on the table, flicking it to flame and capping it, “So, what do we do?”

Brasa looked to Javier, who said, “We’re going to close the portal completely. Permanently.”

“And how do we do that?”

Javier smiled, “Staff, book, knife, cup, and blood.”

The words came out in rhythm, hinting at ritual. Lilah pressed her lips together to keep from asking ‘what the fuck does that mean?’

Seth sneered, “What the fuck does that mean?”

Javier shrugged, “Exactly what I said, Mr. Gecko. We will need a staff, a book, a knife, a cup, and blood to close the portal.”

After a moment of thought, “I get the staff, the book, and I’m sure you’ll tell us how to hunt down the knife soon. But, whose cup and blood are we talking about.”

“Mine,” Brasa answered without delay.

“How much?” Was out of Lilah’s mouth before she could stop it.

Brasa’s eyes turned to her, “A lot. More than I would normal allow myself to expend. I’ll be weak for some time afterwards. I’ve made plans to see to my own safety.”

Her eyes narrowed, telling him without words that he was going to be telling her exactly what those plans were, and soon. From across their bond, she could feel him laughing. It only made her glare more fierce.

“Well,” Seth said as he stood, both hands pushing his body from the table, “Looks like we’re saving the world again.”

Richie lifted a brow and regarded his brother through his horn rimmed glasses, “Yipee kay yay, motherfucker.”

[gloves94]

Sunburn [Prince Zuko] 5

Warnings: None   Rating: PG-13   Pairings: Zuko/OC   Summary:  “You have everything you’ve ever wanted.” “No.” He said softly. “Not everything…”  His golden eyes looked at her with a melting intensity she had never witnessed before. “I guess not.” She responded with glassy eyes as tears welled up threatening to break the dam of her eyes.

My fanfiction: M A S T E R L I S T

"Admiral Zhao is not allowing ships in or out of this area." A soldier from Commander Zhao's fleet had stepped into Team Zuko's. He had basically barged in an demanded that the prince hand over all information in regards of the Avatar. And here Iroh the ever optimistic thought they were here for a game of Pai Sho.

"I've got nothing to report to Zhao," Zuko stated coldly as he looked at the floor and then glared at the soldiers that stood before him. "Now off my ship!" He roared casting Tsai to jump slightly as he pointed them out.

'Who is this Zhao?'

Tsai knew that it wasn't hard to get under Zuko's skin, but there was something about this man that seemed to really irritate him. Or maybe it was the fact they had been sailing northeast without a single sighting in the past couple of days. Not knowing much about the war or its generals or commanders she remained clueless to his man's identity, but would he would he have to crawl over her dead body if she was just going to let somebody take her destiny of bringing peace to the Fire Nation world. Approaching the table she read over a wanted poster that some of the soldiers were looking at.

"It says here that the Avatar can create tornadoes and run faster than the wind," one of the soldiers read aloud in awe. "Pretty amazing!" Another said.

Tsai blinked twice taken aback when an image of a boy no older than twelve which was painted on the poster. He was just a child, a bald child with eager eyes and a tattooed arrow pointing down the middle of his forehead. "But he's just a child," she gaped in surprise. All this time she had been imagining a very old man. But if he was a child- why on Earth hadn't Zuko been able to capture him?

She didn't know much about air benders. No one did, after all they had been extinct for the past one hundred years. Part of her wished the ship had a library where she could research information about the Avatar, but wait maybe there was something she could do...

"Tsai, care to join us for a game of Pai Sho? I think they are getting better," Iroh called. "I'll pass for now. I have to write to my family," it wasn't a complete lie. "Good luck gentleman," she smiled sweetly at the men making some of them swoon.

Xxx

'Brother,

I hope you are well. I know I have been gone less than a week. I hope you don't miss me too much. I also wish I could tell you where I am, but it is hard to pin point. We are presently sailing northwest hot on the Avatar's trail. Can you believe it?

Iroh has been a most gracious host. I enjoy spending time with him, he really reminds me of grandpa, and the prince well- tell mother not to get too excited, but he does have some redeeming qualities (and a terrible temper as well).

Mecha, I need to ask you yet another favor. Please send me all information you might have on air benders or air bending. Turns out the Avatar is only a child! A slippery one that is if he's had Prince Zuko chasing him all over the world with no success.

Lots of love to the family,

- Your Sister Tsai'

Tsai came down from the commander tower after having sent out a fire hawk home to her brother. Coming down she encountered a fire show of the prince angrily kicking and punching bold strokes of dangerous fire in all directions. He even appeared to be radiating anger.

"Hey, you O.K.?" She found herself asking once again. She put her hands on her waist as she eyed him carefully barely dodging a fire blast which headed in her direction. Part of her suspected that had not been an accident. He wore a maroon training tunic that showed off his toned arms.

"Perfectly fine," he grumbled. Obviously not pleased. "Is it because of that man Zhao?" She pressed on. "We can't give up yet! We can still find the Avatar before him," she said in a determined tone. "We?"He scoffed incredulously.

As far as he knew Tsai brought nothing to table except for maybe tea and Pai Sho. She nodded holding a fist to her chest a determined glint in her honey brown eyes. "I know we can do it!"

"She's right Prince Zuko," Iroh suddenly appeared. "I was becoming worried when you hadn't ordered your men in the past hour."

"How? With Zhao's resources, it's just a matter of time before he captures the Avatar," he stated upset. He turned and lowered his voice into almost a whisper, "My honor, my throne, my country... I'm about to lose them all." A somber gust of wind passed by.

Seeing him like this. Seeing anybody like this broke the girl's mushy heart. She looked at him sadly.

"But you have something Zhao doesn't have!" She said animatedly.

Both Iroh and Zuko turned to look at her with expecting eyes. "Something worth fighting for!"

His fists clenched at his sides in fury. "That's absolutely useless!" He roared in frustration. She flinched a little at his tone. I mean she was only trying to help...

"Prince Zuko, a word from Zhao's men. Apparently the Admiral has the Avatar on his compound grounds."

Tsai closed her eyes not wanting to witness the volcano that was about to explode in front of her. 'Talk about bad timing.' Her hair was whipped wildly by several heat waves.

Shutting her eyes even tighter she set her mind to it, she was determined to do something about this. If Zhao had the Avatar that meant that the odds of her having a chance at achieving her grandfather's dream would be destroyed.

Xxx

It was already the evening. Zuko braced himself for the battle that he would encounter tonight. He put his twin blades on his back and shed his princely identity becoming a Blue Spirit of the night. He was ready to sneak out when a gentle knock made him freeze on the spot.

"H-Hey," a voice said softly.

It was Tsai.

"I'm really sorry about today. Just know I'm going to try my best to help out more from now on. I understand if you're still upset. Well, have a good night then." He hadn't realized that he had been holding his breath all of this time. He slowly released it when he heard her foot steps trail off.

Meanwhile Tsai tip toed around the ship until she reached the deck where some of the soldier's were currently lounging keeping their night guard.

"Gentleman," she coed in a soft voice.

Their jaws dropped at the sight. One wolf whistled inappropriately. They were basically salivating at the sight of the lady before them. Her eyes were coated with cleverly applied dark make up, more than she usually wore. Perfect for an evening look. Her lips were rogue and her features had been professionally contoured. Crimson hair cascaded down her back in full waves. "Anybody feel like taking me ashore?" She popped her hip to the side dramatically batting her eyelashes.

A few moments later Tsai was ashore standing outside the gates of the Pohuai Stronghold  She noted the way it was heavily armed and had no trouble batting her eyelashes getting inside. One of the few advantages of war was that these men hadn't seen a woman in ages.

xxx

"Tell me, how does it feel to be the only airbender left?" Zhao taunted the Avatar as he rounded him in a chamber. "Do you miss your people?" He pressed on leaning maliciously close towards the boy.

Taking in a massive breath the Avatar blew the man hard against the metal door making him lose his balance and ungracefully fall on his face. "Blow all the wind you want. Your situation is futile. There is no escaping this fortress and nobodyis coming to rescue you." He scowled.

"Admiral Zhao," a soldier suddenly entered the chamber. "You better come quick Sir." he urged, "Y-You've got an important guest," he adjusted his helmet his face slightly turning scarlet.

Zhao raised an eyebrow with intrigue. He had not been expecting anybody. Could it have been that Fire Lord Ozai had sent a personal gift to him? He ran a hand through his hair combing it down in a narcissistic matter.

Xxx

Tsai had been brought to a waiting room which wasn't nearly as elegant as the one in her home. She sat comfortably with a relaxed expression on her features, her poise and feet had been placed in a strategic way which she knew highlighted her best features. (She had also stuffed her bra with two apples although she would never confess that to anyone). She wore a flattering emerald green kimono dress that fit her in all the right places a jade butterfly clip held half of her hair up elegantly.

"I wasn't expecting any company tonight." A man whom Tsai assumed to be Admiral Zhao walked in. He air of arrogance seemed to follow him. He was a middle-aged military man with dark gray hair and sharp sideburns that made his features appear more angular. A smug smirk twisted on his lips. "Ms. Haru of Hu Xin," his eyes scanned her body tracing every curve and inch of her visible skin.

"I had heard tales of the man, the myth, the legend-"

Tsai almost threw up in her mouth. She could not believe she had just said that. It was official she had been reading way too many cheesy plays. As disgusting as this was, she had a plan, and a part to play if she wanted to succeed. She rose to her feet slightly draping one of the sleeves down to display a bare shoulder. "Had to come see it myself. Meet the infamous Admiral Zhao." She spoke as she rounded him. His eyes followed her, enjoying every minute of having his ego stroked. "Congrats on the promotion," she spoke lowly in an attempt to sound both older and more mature. How old was he anyways?

"How old are you Haru?" He said with an edge of suspicion raising up an eyebrow. "Didn't your mother ever tell you it was rude to ask a lady for her age?" She let out a throaty chuckle as she flirted. "I'm almost twenty," she lied with skill tossing him back a look.

Tsai lied through her teeth the entire night. She had managed to convince a high ranking military officer, an admiral, that she was around town visiting her cousin and upon hearing the news that the now 'famed' admiral was in town, well she just had to visit. It was such an absurd lie and Zhao appeared to be such an ego maniac that he totally ate it up. The two were currently sitting on one of the sofa seats. Both were drinking some wine that the admiral had been reserving for a special occasion. With every minute that passed he inched closer and closer to her wanting more than just hand holding or gentle strokes. Tsai's ruse was beginning to collapse. She had to get out of here and fast. She chuckled nervously as the man stroked her waist and slowly inched his hand lower and lower. He was also leaning in closer-

"Ah-I'm-Um.. I need to use the restroom!" She declared jumping to her feet. The Admiral collapsed on the sofa and turned to look at her with an elbow propped holding his head up. "Don't be long," he purred.

Knowing him he probably found his intimidation to be 'endearing' or something twisted amongst those lines.

The girl tiptoed out in to the hallway and let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding once she was out of his sight. Great- now she had to find the Avatar. If she was Zhao were would he keep the Avatar? Probably close by, tall in this tower. She rushed up the stairs running as fast as she could. She really had no time to waste.

Xxx

The Blue Spirit had successfully infiltrated Zhao's compound base. He snuck in floor by floor until he reached the top of the tower. However, he was surprised when he did not encounter any soldiers. Only evidence of a conflict. Abandoned helmets rolled down the empty hallways. Marks of conflicts, stains of blood and slashes had scarred the walls of the military compound.

There was also water in the floor and a wooden bucket which had been smashed to bits and pieces.

'Just- what happened here?' Zuko thought to himself. His eyes narrowed in suspicion. Somebody had beat him to it. There was somebody else here.

xxx

Aang heard what sounded like punched being thrown followed by painful screams. He brazed himself and kept his eyes focused on the steel door that was across from him. It was then that the door opened and a beautiful woman walked in. She exhaled sharply quickly running her hands through her wavy red colored hair combing it back into place. His jaw dropped as she ran towards him. Her emerald dressing robes fluttering behind as she did.

"There's no time," she stood before him and upon closeness Aang realized she was only a teenager. One in a very poor disguise. "Who are y-" He began to ask. "No time," she hissed glaring and pulled an apple from the inside of her robe slamming it against his open mouth silencing him. She appeared to be picking at the locks with the back of her hair pin. It was then that the door behind the two was once again shut.

xxx

Both Aang and Tsai couldn't believe what they were seeing an individual wearing black with a Blue Spirit theater mask entered the room. Aang bit the apple hard the fruit collapsing on the floor as he swallowed almost choking on the piece of apple.

Xxx

Zuko blinked twice, shook to his core. He was thankful for the mask for it hid his expression of shock and disbelief. Was he hallucinating?

'How had- there was no way- but- it had to be.'

Pulling out his twin blades be began an elaborate display of mastery over the blades. The Avatar let out a loud scream. The lady wearing the emerald dress kimono stood before him pushing him behind, shielding him with her body.

"Shh!!" She hissed as the Avatar screeched for his life. The masked individual came closer and evenly sliced the Avatar's hand restrains. Aang felt his arms drop as the blood rush back to them. The Avatar and his lovely savior looked at the masked individual in shock.

Xxx

Zuko stood mere inches away from her. Now he was more certain than ever. It was most definitely her. It was Tsai and she appeared to be wearing some type of disguise. Regardless, she looked-

He shook his head. He snapped back to reality realizing that both his uncle's royal guest and the Avatar were starring at him with their eyes the size of golf balls. He lowered his weapons also freeing the Avatar's feet. Tsai and Aang exchanged a look as Zuko walked towards the door. "What's going on?"

The red-headed beauty slowly walked over to the Blue Spirit. Her light brown eyes were focused on him. Friend or foe? She measured her opponent. There was something familiar about his stance, about his posture, something that she couldn't put her finger on.

It was impossible. Zuko remained in shock. Not a single hair out of place, her clothes remained impeccable with no signs of struggle. He looked at her hands both resting at her sides without a weapon.

Also- how on Earth had she even gotten of the ship?

"I think he's here to save you," she spoke after making a decision. Sticking a hand into her dress she pulled out an apple from her chest, her expression serious. "Listen here," She reached for the spirit's dark shirt and fisted it pulling the mask close to her face. She paused for a moment attempting to catch a glimpse of any notable feature underneath the mask. "I have important things to do, places to be-" she hissed out. Her grip becoming tighter.

Zuko had never seen her like this, had never seen her eyes hold such darkness in them.

"I'm entrusting you with the Avatar Blue Spirit and I've got news for you. If anything happens to him. If there is a scratch on his bald head, a broken limb, if any harm comes to him-" Her hand trembled slightly before the apple she had been holding in her hand was crushed into a juice mash just with her grip strength. The message was loud and clear. "Got that?" She finished menacingly before letting go pushing the masked individual slightly.

"Wait!" Aang called out. "Who are you?!"

It was too late. She was gone.

xxxxx

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CHAPTER MASTERLIST

[hrtiu]

@officialrexsoka I’m a week late but I finally finished! Written for Rexsoka Week 2020, the prompt is “shadows.” 

Rex and Ahsoka were separated for almost fifteen years after the rise of the Empire, but they saw shadows of each other everywhere they looked.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/26891554

Wolffe was a good companion. He was Rex’s brother, after all, and nobody understood one another quite like the clones. That being said, Wolffe was a bit of a kill-joy.

“Come on, Wolffe. Just one game,” Rex said, holding his portable holochess set out in front of him like a peace offering.

The two of them just barely fit on the beat-up, tiny transport they’d managed to barter for a few systems back, but Rex somehow still felt lonely at times. He only hoped their intel was right and that they’d find Commander Gregor at their destination.

Wolffe crossed his arms and dug further into the ancient copilot seat in which he’d encamped. “I don’t have time for games.”

“We’re in hyperspace. We’ll be in hyperspace for the next few hours. What else is there to do?”

“Plan tactics. Think up our next move. Sleep.”

“Alright, alright,” Rex said, giving up his brother as a lost cause.

He switched the holochess set on and turned on the one-player setting. It was better than nothing, but he’d always preferred a real, non-artificial opponent.

Rex looked over the projected warriors on the holochess board at Wolffe, who’d taken his own suggestion and fallen into a deep sleep. He remembered a time when he might have behaved the same way as Wolffe. Each of the clones started out essentially exactly the same, but over time different friends, assignments, and life experiences gradually set them on different paths, distinguishing them from each other and refining their personalities. The 501st in particular tended to turn out clones who were more independent, aggressive, and fun-loving.

The battle was fierce, but Rex eventually beat the AI into submission. He knew if the AI had been set on its most difficult setting that he’d never win, which was part of why he preferred a sentient opponent. Rex put the holochess set away and sat back in his seat, closing his eyes and attempting to relax. He remembered the first time he’d played holochess, also on a spaceship but one much larger than this. It had been not long after Teth and the whole mess with the Hutts, and he’d been so shiny it almost hurt to think about.

“It’s your move, Rexter!” General Skywalker’s new Padawan said.

Rex bit back a grimace at the nickname. It was just the kid’s way of showing affection, so he tried to take it in stride, even giving her an affectionate moniker as well, but she’d stick to “Rex” or “Captain” if he had his way.

Rex considered the board for a while, trying to keep all the rules Commander Tano had explained earlier straight in his head. Some argued that holochess could teach valuable ideas about strategy and tactics, but the Kaminoans had considered it too far removed from actual battle to be an efficient use of time. As such, Rex hadn’t learned to play on Kamino.

After some thought, Rex moved a piece three squares over, towards one of her more vulnerable pieces.

“That’s an illegal move,” Ahsoka said.

“What? But I thought it could move three spaces?”

“That’s its range. It’s movement is three.”

“Ah,” Rex said, annoyed with himself for forgetting. “My mistake.”

He moved the piece back two squares so it had only shifted one square from its original position. He was pretty sure it was an awful move, but he didn’t much care. He was just playing to humor the young Jedi anyway.

Ahsoka immediately moved one of her pieces to attack the piece he’d just moved, killing it. She crowed in victory, and Rex leaned back in his chair with a sigh.

“Shouldn’t you be off meditating or something?” he asked.

Ahsoka shrugged. “Eh. You can’t be meditating all the time. It’s important to find opportunities to relax and have fun. It helps you perform better when you need it most.”

“Hmm.”

“I can see you don’t believe me,” Ahsoka said. “But guess what? I’m the best lightsaber duelist my age in the galaxy. Relaxing and having some fun every once in a while didn’t dull my edge.”

“Really?” Rex asked, legitimately impressed. “You’re the best?”

“Yeah,” Ahsoka said with a proud grin. “Why do you think Master Yoda let me get involved in combat?”

That did seem like the only logical explanation for someone as young as Ahsoka fighting. Rex still didn’t approve, to be honest. It didn’t seem right that someone as young and innocent and… full of life as Ahsoka should be on the battlefield. Although he supposed it would be odd of him to object considering he was actually a few years younger than her.

“Well I’ll take that into consideration, Commander. And you’d better watch your back, because one day soon I’m going to beat you at this blasted game.”

Thoughts returned to the present, Rex looked across the cockpit towards his brother again. Wolffe’s eyes were closed, but his frequent fidgeting suggested he was awake.

“Come on, brother,” he said, putting a warm hand on Wolffe’s forearm. “If you can’t sleep at least find a way to relax. We’ll be in a better position to help Gregor if we aren’t wound so tight.”

Wolffe opened first his good eye, then the cybernetic one, casting a sideways look at Rex. “Relaxing and messing around didn’t help save my men.”

Rex’s features softened and he tried to keep the pity from his face, knowing Wolffe wouldn’t appreciate it. “It didn’t get them killed either. That was nobody’s fault but the enemy’s.”

Wolffe stubbornly crossed his arms and closed his eyes again, and Rex decided to let the issue go. He was halfway through another game against the board’s AI when Wolffe stirred beside him.

“Fine,” Wolffe said, turning his seat towards Rex and reaching for the board. “Couldn’t sleep anyway.”

Rex couldn’t help but smile.

---

“Blast it,” Ahsoka cursed under her breath as she dodged yet another laser bolt, this one coming close enough to singe the cloak that covered her montrals. She’d come to this particularly shady smuggler-ridden Corellian city to finally meet an Imperial contact she’d been working for months, but it looked like her contact had set her up.

Ahsoka leapt away from the blaster fire, ducking behind a large crate of who-knows-what for cover and cursing her bad luck. Or maybe it wasn’t luck but rather an inevitability. Whenever she made contacts, no matter how meticulously vetted their background or carefully tested their intel, at some point she had to trust them and take the plunge into a full-blown partnership. The contact she was supposed to meet with today had been very promising, and Ahsoka was disappointed that all that time developing the potential mole hadn’t panned out.

She’d known as soon as she’d stepped into the dingy cantina that she’d been set up—the five imperial soldiers dressed as bounty hunters had given that away immediately. “Dewback,” as the contact had called himself, was a skilled counterintelligence agent, and she had to guess he hadn’t been responsible for equipping the disguised stormtroopers with identical, brand-new E-11’s. 

The stormtroopers’ bodies now decorated the cantina floor, but Ahsoka hadn’t managed to take out Dewback himself. She’d caught a vague glimpse of him in the shadows during her fight, but it wasn’t until the stormtroopers were all down, when Ahsoka was carefully looking over the place to see what hostiles were remaining, that he’d attacked.

And now here she was, pinned behind this stupid crate in the dead-end of an alley in some Force-awful Corellian slum.

If only I could use my blasted lightsaber, she thought, but that had to be a last resort. She’d have to only use her two blasters if she didn’t want to stick out like a sore thumb. The empire was looking for her—and her specifically, though she couldn’t imagine why. It would already be bad news if Dewback was able to report back to his superiors that she was a Togruta. If he reported back both her description and that she used lightsabers? That was a worst-case scenario.

Best-case scenario: she killed Dewback here and now without using any Jedi-specific weapons or abilities. He’d already caught a glimpse of her, so he needed to be taken out.

Ahsoka closed her eyes and reached out with the Force, trying to pin down where her assailant might be. The Force was unfortunately being difficult, though, and she could only get a vague sense of distance. He wasn’t sneaking up behind her, and he hadn’t crept too close either, so that was good to know. She took a deep breath, readied her blasters, and decided to take a quick look from behind her crate.

Shec caught a brief glimpse of Dewback maybe fifty feet away from her at the mouth of the alley before he started firing and she had to duck back behind cover. He knew where she was, and she had nowhere that she could run (without using some Force-empowered acrobatics, at least). He had the upper hand in every way except that there was no cover from where he stood at the mouth of the alley to Ahsoka’s current position. She could use that to her advantage.

Ahsoka closed her eyes again and reached out with the Force, this time blocking out any extraneous details and instead only trying to get a sense for when the Imperial spy started moving towards her. As soon as he left the cover of the corner at the mouth of the alley, she’d break cover and fire on him.

Not yet…

Wait for it…

Wait for it…

Now!

Ahsoka rose out from behind the crate, a blaster in each hand, and started shooting towards the shadowy figure she saw darting into the alley. Dewback dodged and weaved, and Ahsoka’s shots went wide, her aim getting worse as the kickback from the blaster knocked her off balance. Dewback returned fire, and Ahsoka was forced to duck behind the crate again.

“Kriff!” she hissed. Over a decade later and she still wasn’t listening to Rex. She could practically hear his voice from her first blaster training session all those years ago.

Ahsoka shot towards the target, her blast going wide and her arm swinging wildly from the force of the shot.

“Not one hand. Two,” Rex said sternly.

Ahsoka pouted. “Why not?”

“The kickback is too strong, it’ll throw off your aim.”

“But you shoot one handed. One blaster in each hand, even!”

Rex took the blaster from Ahsoka’s hand, inspected it, then put it back in her hand, adjusting her grip and bringing her other hand up to support it. “That’s because a blaster is my primary weapon, and I’ve been practicing with it for years. My mind and body know how to stabilize against the kickback and adjust my aim accordingly.”

“I could do that, too.”

“I’m sure you could, but your time is much better spent with your lightsaber. Everyone has their place in an army, Commander Tano, and you can be most effective with your lightsaber. These lessons are just to help you out if you’re in a scrap—they’re not meant to make you a master marksman.”

“Fine,” she said, conceding that Rex knew what he was talking about and she didn’t.

She raised the blaster up, keeping the grip that Rex had shown her with one hand on the trigger and the other supporting, and fired off a shot. The center of the target lit up with sparks.

“Good shot, sir!” Rex said.

Ahsoka grinned up at him. “Thanks, Rex.”

Back in the present, Ahsoka tossed one of her blasters to the side and held onto the remaining one with two hands. She tugged the necklace out from under her shirt and held onto the pendant, taking a deep breath and focusing on the Force. 

The Force came easier to her this time, and she sensed Dewback not twenty feet from her in the alley. Now was the time. She broke cover again and raised her blaster, holding it straight in front of her with two hands, then shot. She fired off several blasts, but the first one was all she’d needed. Dewback dropped to the dirty street, smoke rising from his singed cloak.

Ahsoka let out a breath of relief and sat back a moment, collecting herself before going to the spy’s corpse to collect whatever information she could. She closed her eyes.

Thanks Rex, she thought.

---

“Don’t come after me!” Wolffe yelled before breaking cover and sprinting towards the besieged bunker. He dodged expertly between screaming blaster beams, some coming from the insurgent forces in the bunker and others coming from the Imperial forces in the valley below.

“No, Wolffe, wait!” Rex screamed after him, then cursed and ducked back behind the mossy boulder.

“He’s going to get himself killed,” Gregor said from his spot next to Rex behind the boulder.

Leave it to Gregor to state the obvious, Rex thought with some frustration. He wanted desperately to rein Wolffe in, but he didn’t think Wolffe would stop at anything to get to that bunker.

A whisper of a hint of a rumor had brought them here, deep in the jungles of Dantooine, in search of one of the last members of General Plo Koon’s Wolfpack. After successfully executing Order 66, the 104th had been sent to track down other “rogue” Jedi. Wolffe had had the misfortune of actually finding his target, who proceeded to massacre his men until only Wolffe was left. Wolffe eventually managed to kill the Jedi, but he never recovered from losing his men. That was when he’d decided he wanted out of the Imperial army.

Several years later and Wolffe had believed himself to be the only surviving member of the Wolfpack, but then they’d started hearing rumors about Boost. Somehow the other member of the Wolfpack had survived, and he was hiding out in the jungles of Dantooine. What Wolffe, Rex, and Gregor hadn’t known when they set off for Dantooine was that Boost had somehow gotten mixed up with a group of dissidents in the jungle, and that those dissidents would be under attack by the Empire when they arrived.

“What do we do, Rex?” Gregor asked. “He’s as good as dead, but we can’t just leave him… can we?”

Rex didn’t know why Gregor and Wolffe acted like he was their CO when he ranked lower than both of them, but it was the dynamic that had developed between them. Rex supposed it was because he’d had longer to adjust to life without the chip, though it could also be because he didn’t have to deal with the guilt of killing his Jedi on top of losing all of his men like Wolffe.

“I don’t know. We can’t go after him, but I don’t want to leave him behind,” Rex said, shaking his head.

“If we’re not leaving then we should join the fight!” Gregor said, his eyes reflecting that wild gleam they sometimes got when he was losing his grip.

Great. Another clone going off the deep end in the middle of a firefight. Just what I needed, Rex thought. Every instinct he’d developed over his long years of service told him to hang back. They didn’t know who the dissidents were or if they’d be hostile to him and his brothers, and they didn’t know the numbers and firepower of the attacking Imperials either. It simply didn’t make sense to rush into the middle of a firefight they didn’t have anything to do with.

“Hang back,” he said.

Gregor looked over at him in disappointment. “But Wolffe!”

“I know, but..!” Rex huffed in frustration, screwing his eyes shut. It wouldn’t help Wolffe if he and Gregor got themselves killed. There was nothing they could do.

“Well I couldn’t just stand back and watch!” Ahsoka shouted, and Rex winced. He’d seen enough arguments between Master and Padawan that he knew this would only escalate.

“Ahsoka, sometimes being a leader means you have to watch people die. You can’t save everyone, and everyone here knows the sacrifices that might be expected of them,” Anakin said.

General Skywalker didn’t say “everyone knows what they signed up for,” Rex noted, because of course the clones never signed up for anything. Rex chastised himself for his traitorous thoughts, but he knew nobody would notice. The two Jedi had forgotten he was there a while ago.

“Well I disagree. We have to at least try to save everyone,” Ahsoka said.

“Sacrifices have to be made to win wars.”

“I want to win the war, but not at the cost of my principles! The men of gamma squad would have died if I hadn’t intervened, and yes, maybe it was reckless. But I had to at least try, and I don’t regret it,” she said stubbornly.

“Karking hell,” Rex muttered under his breath. It was like Ahsoka had stretched her hand out from wherever she was across the galaxy to smack him on the head with that memory.

“What was that?” Gregor asked.

Rex shook his head. “Nothing. Ok, we’re going in, but we’re going to do this smart.”

Gregor nodded eagerly. “Yeah! Yeah!”

“See that tree line along the ridge? We’re going to follow it to the bunker, moving one at a time and covering each other as we go…”

Several hours later they returned to their rusty ship, carrying Wolffe between them. They’d found Boost, but the grizzled clone had refused to go with them, explaining that he was dedicated to the rebel cause now. So they’d helped fight the Imperials off, then left. Rex might have thought the whole excursion was a dangerous waste of time if he hadn’t glimpsed the foreign light of happiness in Wolffe’s good eye.

Rex allowed himself a secret smile as he punched in the coordinates on the navicomputer after liftoff. It had been over five years since he’d last seen Ahsoka, but she still managed to barge into his life. And he was a better man for it.

---

“What do we do, Fulcrum?” the rebel agent asked Ahsoka, eyes wide in fear and uncertainty. His fear was reflected in the handful of other faces that clustered around, all of them looking to her for direction.

“I don’t know, just give me a second!” Ahsoka snapped, guilt immediately rising as the agent flinched back at her response. “I’m sorry,” she amended. “I just need a moment to think.”

Of course the first time she decided to meet with her agents in person the Imps would show up to their rendezvous point looking for them. Ahsoka and her nine recruits had all been meeting together in an abandoned hovertrain platform on Ord Mantell when Ahsoka’s comm crackled to life with a warning from their lookout. Buckets on the move. ETA to your location ten minutes.

This would be so easy if she were on her own. Force leap across the platform, vault a few walls, and nobody would even know she’d been there. But she couldn’t very well carry all nine of her agents with her while she escaped. If they’d been experienced spies then she’d feel comfortable leaving them to their own devices, but none of these people were career agents of espionage. Some of them had been passing along information for some time, yes, but they’d simply been going about their daily lives as normal and reporting Imperial activity in their cities and towns, not infiltrating enemy bases or disappearing in plain sight.

Calm them down, Ahsoka. They need you.

Ahsoka blinked in surprise when she realized the voice in her head sounded a lot like Rex.

“Don’t worry, we can do this,” she said, taking the voice’s advice. “The rest of the station is crowded, and we can blend into the crowd, we just need to make sure we leave at different times from different locations.”

“From different locations? But we’re all in the same place,” one of the spies, a Rodian man named Gundie said.

Six other people started asking questions at once, their chatter forming one incomprehensible mass that hurt Ahsoka’s montrals to listen to.

Delegate. Pick the person with the most potential and let them develop under the responsibility you’ve given them, Rex’s voice sounded again in her mind.

“Quiet!” she hissed, her authoritative voice cutting through the chaos. “Gundie, you take half the group and hike down the tracks to the next platform. That one is also abandoned, so there shouldn’t be anyone there. Once you’re there, each of you leave the platform for the main station one at a time, a minute apart each. Some people can leave together if you think you can make it look like you’re traveling together. I’ll lead the rest of us to do the same thing here.”

Gundie nodded, then opened his mouth to ask another question.

“No time,” she said, cutting him off. “We have eight minutes until troopers arrive. Let’s move, and once you’re safe back in your assigned locations send me a signal”

She picked out the four agents with Gundie and sent them on their way, then turned to her own group. “Ok, head for the platform exit. We wait there behind the gate, then one at a time slip into the main station. And keep quiet.”

Lead by example, Rex’s voice continued. Stay calm and inspire their confidence.

Ahsoka schooled her features accordingly and walked to the head of her little group, crouching low and moving carefully but trying her best to project calm and confidence.

It wasn’t surprising to her that this advice would come in the form of Rex’s voice. While Ahsoka had technically been Rex’s superior, that had mostly been by virtue of her status as a Jedi. Ahsoka’s role in most battles had more resembled a specialized advanced combat unit than a commander, and Rex had done most of the leading on the battlefield. It made sense. Ahsoka was an expert with a lightsaber, but she’d become a commander as soon as she’d become a Padawan, and she’d certainly never been trained in battle tactics or military leadership as a youngling. Everything she knew about leading men she’d learned from Anakin and Rex. And now that she thought back on it, most of the lessons she wanted to keep with her she’d learned from only from Rex.

They reached the exit of the abandoned platform, and Ahsoka held up a hand to call her agents to a halt. She took up a position behind one of the barriers blocking off the hallway to the abandoned platform where she could see the main hallway but couldn’t be seen herself. She waited for a large group of commuters to walk by, then signaled for her first agent to leave.

The nervous man who’d asked for her help went first. Then an Ithorian woman, then two humans left together. Ahsoka took a deep breath as soon as the last two spies rounded a corner at the far end of the main hall and finally let herself relax. Right on time, a squad of stormtroopers entered the opposite end of the main hall and headed in her direction.

“I’d like to see them try and stop me,” Ahsoka said to herself with a smirk, though of course she’d prefer they didn’t see her at all.

She faded back into the shadows of the abandoned platform and leapt up into the air to land on a metal maintenance walkway high above the ground. She rushed down the walkway towards a utilitarian door that her preparations informed her led to the roof, and by the time the stormtroopers arrived on the platform, she was long gone.

That night, as Ahsoka curled up in her tiny bunk aboard the ancient stealth fighter she now called home, sleep evaded her. She tossed and turned for a bit, but still her thoughts raced. Hearing Rex’s voice, imagined though it had been, had called attention to the ache in her chest that had laid mostly dormant for a while now.

With a sigh Ahsoka sat up, giving up the fight to sleep for now. She tugged on a leather strap that she always wore around her neck out from under her shirt, feeling along its length for the pendant and holding the smooth metal in her hand. She didn’t need to look at it to know what she’d asked the Togruta craftsmen to etch there for her. Not many people knew how to read Togruti, Ahsoka included, but even if they did they wouldn’t know what 7567 was supposed to mean.

Ahsoka held the pendant tight in her hand and her mind gradually calmed, allowing her to drift off to sleep. She missed Rex terribly, but today had been a reminder that he was always with her, even if only in shadows.

[oveliagirlhaditright]

Hoping to Help

An AU story about who I thought might have been Swallow for a while. Neo spoilers (moreso in the AN than anything, I think, but still maybe stay away if you haven't finished the game, to be safe).

https://archiveofourown.org/works/33528064

Author’s Note:  Just imagine that in this AU, Rindo and Shoka just fall for each other because of the Game and the Game alone:)

‘Don’t worry, Rindragon. I’m coming to get you,’ Eri thought, as she typed a message to her most recent friend and prayed beyond measure that Neku and Shiki might be able to get him out of the Game.

For you see, Eri was none other than Swallow: Rindo’s online friend he’d been worrying about so much during his Reapers’ Game.

And Eri, honestly, was only ever in the UG a few times (the instances that Joshua would let her in to help Neku and Shiki with whatever mission they were on about something called an “Inversion”. And the Composer was far more lenient with Shiki coming and going from the UG than her… probably because if Josh had his way, Eri never would have been told about the Reapers’ Game at all). So Eri sometimes being in the UG (the times Josh would let her) explained some of the reason that she and Rindragon were still able to text.

But the other, Eri imagined, was that maybe in being around so many Ex-Players… they had somehow touched her, so that fate itself thought she was one of them and always in the UG, too.

And Eri would of course happily take being able to still talk with Rindragon this way, over Neku’s situation… where he wasn’t a Reaper yet, but every day Joshua was getting closer and closer to breaking his defenses down so he would choose that, Eri thought. Though part of her did wish that she was in the UG constantly, so she might be able to do anything for Rindragon.

And, yeah… Eri had technically lied to Rindragon, something she never wanted to do, about her being in the UG (all the time)—but it had been simpler than explaining her actual situation. And she really wasn’t even supposed to do that, according to Joshua, since he warned her that the Higher Plane would probably strike her down for knowing so much without being a former Player, if she wasn’t careful.

So, most of the time, Eri was mum’s the word about it at all, over anything that could be traced, and wouldn’t talk to Shiki, Neku, Beat, or Rhyme about other Plane stuff over the phone and might even go so far as to only whisper to them about it in their houses… but now Eri was almost willing to the risk of being murdered by the Higher Plane, just if it gave her one shot at saving Rindragon!

He was younger than her—Eri had been able to tell that right away—but she didn’t mind it. She’d always been popular with most ages, honestly, and he had been there for her when she’d been somewhat left out of Reapers’ Game talks with her friends (they tried with her. They really did. And Eri appreciated them for it, but it was clear that there were some things about it that they could really only share with each other) and wanted to start a game of her own with a new friend, like Shiki had new friends… it was why Eri had started playing FanGo to begin with.

But now, it almost seemed like her dream of playing FanGo with Rindragon was going to fade, too. And Eri was a go-getter, who worked so very hard and usually achieved her dreams that way… so lately, the fact that she’d been losing so much (like with Neku’s death, that had mortified her until she got to see him again) didn’t sit right with her at all, and she wanted to fix some of it… somehow and someway. And so, she’d try.

“Neku… I feel like you’re the key to going in and saving him, oh, Legendary Player. Any chance you can do that for a friend here?”

And if Eri wouldn’t have known better, she would have thought it was just a normal night with the three of them, sitting around her apartment, casually eating pizza… but of course with her luck lately, it was anything but.

“I’ll try, Eri,” Neku promised her, sending a small smile Eri’s way (he saved his big one’s for Shiki), while he pulled the cheese off his pizza (he was thinking about going vegan lately, Eri knew). “Even though the Reapers are trying hard to create walls I can’t pass—and will be on my ass the moment I try it--…but you do know there’s a chance we’ll have to fight him, right? If he remains Kubo’s lapdog? I’d say it would just be me doing that… but the way Josh is, the asshole may try to recruit you guys into the UG, too.”

And as Neku was clearly starting to get worked up here (at the idea of having to fight an innocent, or the two of them entering the UG again like him), Shiki reached over on the couch they were on together and ran soothing circles all over Neku’s back. And Eri found that she couldn’t blame Neku for being stressed… especially since he was pretty much a murdered specimen right now. Eri was stressed, mostly for Rindragon, but she didn’t even have the half of Neku’s issues going on for her. “Hopefully it won’t come to that!” Shiki encouraged Eri too, sending the large smile her way that Neku had been incapable of—but Eri thought it was kind of nice, in that regard. This couple clearly completed each other… even if it made her feel a bit lonely to see sometimes. “I’m sure Neku—and us, if it comes down to it—will find a way. Like when Neku got the Red Skull Pin off of my person, so he wouldn’t have to defeat me… We’ll think of something, Eri, I know it. And Rindragon seems strong,” Shiki continued on, proving that she was still very much was the new Shiki who believed in things, and not the old one who so easily got tripped up.

But Rindragon most certainly was that, Eri knew. You didn’t become one of the top FanGo players for nothing; you had to walk all over and work hard for it, to be strong enough and savvy enough catch the best creatures. So Eri knew that Rindragon was clearly fit—and had gamer’s hands, and therefore fast reflexes—but she was still so paranoid about him here.

“Shiki’s right, Eri,” Neku promised, squeezing her hand—that had still been on her keyboard—in an aim to comfort her even more now. Was she really that shaken up? “I’ve been in so many Games now, that I’m not going to make them say that I can’t have my way without a fight. And even though I don’t think I’m as reassuring as Beat would be here… If I need to carry all of us in the Game, I’ll do so.” And Neku did end up attempting to do that for them—which Eri knew she would always appreciate him for—but she ended up helping Rindragon (Rindo, who she properly knew the name of by then) against the Plague Noise, too (and Shiki aided in it as well, whose Imagination had gotten so powerful, that she didn’t even have to be a Player or Reaper to use some of her powers now. Eri got desperate and did kill herself for Rindo’s sake—and entered the Game that way—and that was something that Rindo gave her a mouthful for: and Eri had smiled amusedly at that, because in some ways… it felt weird to be chewed out by a kid. But it was a kid she adored, so she would take it… especially since she knew that if she survived, Josh had promised he would bring her back, so Rindo would no longer be able to be mad at her for throwing her life away for him then).

But it was no easy thing. Eri imagined she had as much trouble finding a psych she could use, as Shiki once had. But eventually, Eri had learned that if she carried pieces of fabric around, and something to draw on them with, the clothes would transform into what she’d drawn on them and she could then use them for a bomb… that took a while to set up this way, but did massive damage when it was done, so she could try and really best the bird that giant phoenix.

Then, everything was finally over. Peace rained in her friends’ lives again, and Eri couldn’t have been happier for it… and that Joshua kept his promises.

And now, Rindo was meeting up with Eri after he had aided his girlfriend, Shoka, find a better apartment to stay in, than the one Joshua had rented for her.

“It’s still so weird to think that you’re Swallow…” Rindo remarked, as the two of them played FanGo on their phones and headed towards 104 to shop some. “One of the lead designers of Gatto Nero. Damn, what are you doing hanging out with a loser like me?”

And at that, Eri had to laugh and give Rindo a quick hug around his waist, because he didn’t even know! “…Actually, I was starting to feel like the loser in not having played the Game… it was why I got into FanGo and met you. And I’m so glad that I did! But then when I found out you were in the Reapers’ Game… well, it was ironic, for sho, but I was afraid I would send Shiki and Neku to save you, and I would do nothing… and so you’d have no good opinion about little old me, when you finally met me at all! So, it meant a lot when you actually chewed me out for joining you in it, and throwing my safety away!

“You’re a good kid, Rindo. A good kid, I’m happy to be friends with,” Eri said, as the two of them dug out the lollipops they’d bought and sucked on them now… She hoped she wasn’t sounding too much like a mom here now, and scaring Rindo off, but when she looked over at him, she could tell that he still looked happy and deep in thought about this all. Good. “And you should totes intern with me for Gatto Nero, if you want. Your friends can too, really!!”

Rindo was guffawing now, as the two of them decided not to go into her and Shiki’s store, but rather up the stairs of the 104 building just to get a nice view.

Eri had no doubt that the girl who had given Rindo lots of advice in the past had finally reared her head, unlike the scared version of her, who had only been able to send him a few scared words in texts lately. And Rindo must have realized that, and been moved by it, because Rindo suddenly took Eri’s hand to shake it, and he smiled. “Sounds like a good deal, Swallow. Count me in!”

Author’s Note: Man, I had so many theories about Swallow while I played the Game… that all turned out to be wrong. Hahaha.

At first, I REALLY thought it was Rhyme, because Swallow sent Rindo a squirrel picture (essentially) and her name is “Swallow.” And I was like, “Squirrel Noise? And Rhyme got SWALLOWed by a Shark Noise?” Also, she’s around Rindo’s age. Ehh?!), but it quickly became clear that that wasn’t the case.

Then my next best guess was Eri for the longest time (which I wrote here), mainly because for a second, I was thinking the person at the computer (Rhyme) and Swallow were the same person, so all of this jumped into my head as to how it COULD have been Eri, even though I really didn’t think they would go this way (because I kind of figured they wouldn’t include Eri, sadly). Though it would have been cool.

Then I thought it was Shiki, for the same reasons I thought it was Eri (and I know that when I was thinking girl at their computer—Rhyme—was Swallow, the color palette should have been a dead giveaway that it was Rhyme. And really, it was. But I thought they MIGHT try and pull a fast one on us, sort of like they did with the Neku and Beat twist, and change the character’s color palettes or something), though clearly they didn’t. But then I didn’t think they would do that, because it might seem like Shiki was in love with Rindo over Neku or something… even though that would be kind of silly, because girls CAN have guy friends that are JUST their guy friends. So, I was really thinking Eri the most, out of the two of them.

I also thought it could be Joshua, for obvious reasons, but mostly I knew Swallow was a girl from the way they talked… typed.

And I think I thought it could have been Neku for five seconds, because when I thought the person at the computer desk and Swallow were the same person, and we then saw “Neku” come and save the Wicked Twisters (like computer-desk-person, Rhyme, had said about coming to save him [Beat], but at the time I thought she meant Rindo), I thought it was Neku because of that, fulfilling the promise, maybe. But I don’t really think I ever truly thought it could have been Neku. I think he was the one I imagined the least, because it would be too obvious.

Somehow, I missed the Shoka thing entirely… even though it seems so obvious now. But I’m kind of glad that I did, because it was a cool twist for me that way.

But here’s the Eri idea. I might the rest of them for fun, too (I already wrote the Shiki one… before this actually, so I hope in doing that, I didn’t steal some of this one’s thunder). Who knows?:)

Hope you all enjoyed!